gangway

UK: /ˈgæŋweɪ/

US: /n. ˈgæŋˌweɪ; interj. ˈgæŋˈweɪ/

US: (n. gang′wā′; interj. gang′wā′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

gang•way /n. ˈgæŋˌweɪ; interj. ˈgæŋˈweɪ/   n. [countable]

1. a passageway, esp. a narrow walkway.
2. Naval Terms gangplank.
3. Government [Brit.] an aisle in the House of Commons separating the more influential members of the political parties from the younger, less influential members.

interj. 

4. Clear the way!—used as a warning or to ask for clear passage.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gang•way  (n. gang′wā′;interj. gang′wā′), n. 

1. a passageway, esp. a narrow walkway.
2. [Naut.]
   • Naval Terms an opening in the railing or bulwark of a ship, as that into which a gangplank fits.
   • Naval Terms gangplank.
   • Naval Terms an area of the weather deck of a ship, between the side and a deckhouse.
   • Naval Terms See accommodation ladder. 
3. Rail Transport
   • the space between the cab of a steam locomotive and its tender.
   • the side entrance of a diesel or electric locomotive.
4. British Terms
   • an aisle in a theater, restaurant, etc.
   • Government an aisle in the House of Commons separating the more influential members of the political parties from the younger, less influential members.
   • a runway in a theater.
5. a temporary path of planks, as at a building site.
6. Mining a main passage or level.
7. Also called logway. the ramp up which logs are moved into a sawmill.

interj. 

8. clear the way! out of the way!

• 1680–90; gang¹ + way; not continuous with Old English gangweg

gang′wayed′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gangway / ˈɡæŋˌweɪ/ noun

1. an opening in a ship's side to take a gangplank
2. another word for gangplank
3. an aisle between rows of seats
4. Also called: logway a ramp for logs leading into a sawmill
5. a main passage in a mine
6. temporary planks over mud or earth, as on a building site

sentence_substitute

1. clear a path!

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

gang•plank /ˈgæŋˌplæŋk/   n. [countable]

1. Nautical, Naval Terms a small movable bridge used for boarding or leaving a ship at a pier. Also called gangway. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gang•plank  (gang′plangk′), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms a flat plank or small, movable, bridgelike structure for use by persons boarding or leaving a ship at a pier. Also called brow, gangway. 

• gang¹ + plank 1840–50, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gangplank / ˈɡæŋˌplæŋk/, gangway, gangboard / ˈɡæŋˌbɔːd/ noun

1. a portable bridge for boarding and leaving a vessel at dockside