street

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a thoroughfare especially in a city, town, or village that is wider than an alley or lane and that usually includes sidewalks
b
: the part of a street reserved for vehicles
c
: a thoroughfare with abutting property
lives on a fashionable street
2
: the people occupying property on a street
the whole street knew about the accident
3
: a promising line of development or a channeling of effort
a crafty politician working both sides of the street
success through compromise is a two-way street
4
capitalized
a
: a district (such as Wall Street or Fleet Street) identified with a particular profession
b
: the people who work in such a district
doing better than the Street expected
5
: an environment (as in a depressed neighborhood or section of a city) of poverty, dereliction, or crime
grew up on the mean streets

street

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to the streets: such as
a
: adjoining or giving access to a street
the street door
b
: carried on or taking place in the street
street fighting
c
: living or working on the streets
a street peddler
street people
d
: located in, used for, or serving as a guide to the streets
a street map
e
: performing in or heard on the street
a street band
f(1)
: suitable for wear or use on the street
street clothes
(2)
: not touching the ground
used of a woman's dress in lengths reaching the knee, calf, or ankle
g
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the street environment
street drugs
used … his new street cred to develop contactsDale Keiger
2
: retail
the street price
Phrases
on the street or in the street
1
: idle, homeless, or out of a job
2
: out of prison : at liberty
up one's street or down one's street
: suited to one's abilities or taste

Examples of street in a Sentence

Noun They live on a busy street. You should look both ways before crossing the street. The police car cruised up the street. Many of our customers walk in off the street without having heard of us before.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For lunch, street tacos or the salmon BLT and Rainbow Lemonade for $16. Location: 11250 W. Burleigh St. Ono Kine Grindz Offer: $10 off King Dinner Platter (the King Kamehameha Dinner costs $55 and feeds two to four people, according to the online menu). Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 Phil Krinsky, a spokesperson for Phoenix police, said officers were called to an apartment complex near 3rd and McKinley streets after 12 p.m. due to an unknown trouble call. Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024 Depositors represent the main street economy, and small businesses are the largest employers in the United States. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 With the show scheduled to start an hour earlier than usual, though slightly delayed by street protests, production could afford the extra time spent on these individualized acts of praise. Alison Herman, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 On the runways, designers may have been focused on reality, but out in the real world—aka outside the fashion shows—street stylers wanted to keep living their fashion fantasies. Irene Kim, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 The plan also would require the company to invest tens of millions of dollars in street improvements, affordable housing and other infrastructure in the city. Amy Taxin, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 In the days before the arrival of 20th-century mass media, politicians, barkers and buskers often found eager audiences by simply mounting a soapbox, a flour barrel or even climbing a ladder on a crowded street — at least if the police did not object. Michael Jackman, Detroit Free Press, 9 Mar. 2024 Much of the street parking surrounding Runyon Canyon is already off-limits to non-residents, forcing drivers to flood residential streets west of the canyon, Raman said in a 2022 letter to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The newspaper also pointed out that mid-street crossing is common in the area, in no small part because the median between the two one-way roads that Herzberg was crossing contains an apparent pedestrian walkway. Jeremy Hsu, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2018 An atmospheric, sub-street level wine cellar-vibe addition in the former Biondi Mills in Ostiense, said to be inspired by the 1950’s American soda companies. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 27 June 2022 Cleveland police are cracking down on riders of dirt bikes, ATVs and other non-street-legal vehicles, but their new tactics have already been tested in other big U.S. cities. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 31 May 2022 One such operation over the weekend resulted in the seizure of 15 non-street-legal vehicles and the issuance of 30-plus citations. Courtney Astolfi, cleveland, 23 May 2022 Earlier this month, the Georgia Department of Public Safety coordinated with state and local law enforcement agencies for the 40th wave of its crime suppression and anti-street racing initiative. John Spink, ajc, 24 Feb. 2022 The tree removal is part of a multi-street paving program planned by the city. BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2021 The late King of Pop has enough tunes in his bag for anyone to serenade sweetly under the covers, but for Pink Sweat$, this song proves that the icon was able to keep it street while being sweet. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 28 May 2021 Among the possibilities, Schiemer said, don't expect any more Project One–style non-street-legal projects. Jens Meiners, Car and Driver, 3 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'street.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English strete, from Old English strǣt, from Late Latin strata paved road, from Latin, feminine of stratus, past participle — more at stratum

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of street was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near street

Cite this Entry

“Street.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/street. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

street

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a public way especially in a city, town, or village usually including sidewalks and being wider than an alley or lane
b
: the part of a street reserved for vehicles
c
: a public way with the property along it
lived on Maple Street
2
: the people occupying property on a street
the whole street was excited

street

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to the street or streets
a street door
a street map
street clothes
2
: of or relating to the environment of the street
street people
Etymology

Noun

Old English strǣt "street," from Latin strata "paved road," derived from earlier stratus, past participle of sternere "to spread out"

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