Standard Lemma guide

gangway

intj · noun · verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˈɡæŋweɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

intj

Meaning 1

Make way! Clear a path!

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: to a crowd

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A passageway through which to enter or leave.

An aisle between rows of seating (especially in a train, aircraft or auditorium).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ireland, UK

Examples

  • The new fleet of trains comes with widened gangways and improved seating.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: alley, alleyway, backs, bunnyrun, chare, chore, close, ennog, entry, fold, gangway, gant, gennel, ginnel, gunnel, gitty, gully, gullyway, hocket, jennel, jigger, jitty, lane, laneway, loke, passage, pend, rabbit run, shut, snickelway, snicket, tenfoot, twitchel, twitten, wynd, vennel

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A passageway through which to enter or leave.

The dividing aisle between the rows of seats on either side of the House of Commons. Used chiefly with reference to terms such as below the gangway.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, broadly

Topics: government, politics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: alley, alleyway, backs, bunnyrun, chare, chore, close, ennog, entry, fold, gangway, gant, gennel, ginnel, gunnel, gitty, gully, gullyway, hocket, jennel, jigger, jitty, lane, laneway, loke, passage, pend, rabbit run, shut, snickelway, snicket, tenfoot, twitchel, twitten, wynd, vennel

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A passageway through which to enter or leave.

The narrow space between two buildings or houses, used to access the backyard/alleyway from the front.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: alley, alleyway, backs, bunnyrun, chare, chore, close, ennog, entry, fold, gangway, gant, gennel, ginnel, gunnel, gitty, gully, gullyway, hocket, jennel, jigger, jitty, lane, laneway, loke, passage, pend, rabbit run, shut, snickelway, snicket, tenfoot, twitchel, twitten, wynd, vennel

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

An articulating bridge or ramp, such as from land to a dock or a ship.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A passage along either side of a ship's upper deck.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A passage through the side of a ship or an opening in the railing through which the ship may be boarded; (also in later use) a jet bridge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A temporary passageway, such as one made of planks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A clear path through a crowd or a passageway with people.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dialectal, obsolete, rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

An earthen and plank ramp leading from the stable yard into the upper storey or mow of a dairy barn.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: agriculture, business, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To serve as, furnish with, or conduct oneself as though proceeding on a gangway.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

passageway between seating areas as in an auditorium or passenger vehicle or between areas of shelves of goods as in stores

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: aisle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: passageway

13

noun

Meaning 13

a temporary bridge for getting on and off a vessel at dockside

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gangplank, gangboard

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: footbridge, overcrossing, pedestrian bridge

14

noun

Meaning 14

a temporary passageway of planks (as over mud on a building site)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: passageway

History

Etymology

From Middle English gangway, from Old English gangweġ (“passageway; thoroughfare”), equivalent to gang + way. Related to Dutch gang (“hallway”) and Norwegian gang (“hallway”).

Across languages

Translations

139 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: писта! (pista!) — make way
  • Catalan: feu lloc — make way
  • Catalan: aparteu-vos — make way
  • Chinese Mandarin: 借過 /借过 (jièguò) — make way
  • Dutch: opzij! — make way
  • Dutch: aan de kant! — make way
  • Finnish: tietä — make way
  • Finnish: tehkää tietä — make way
  • French: écartez-vous — make way
  • French: laissez passer — make way
  • French: dégagez le passage — make way
  • German: Mach Platz! — make way
  • Italian: pista! — make way
  • Italian: fate largo! — make way
  • Japanese: 通して (tō shite) — make way
  • Māori: pōuri ake — make way
  • Māori: pōuri atu — make way
  • Polish: z drogi — make way
  • Portuguese: abram alas — make way
  • Russian: прохо́д (proxód) — make way
  • Russian: доро́га (doróga) — make way
  • Spanish: ¡a un lado! — make way
  • Bulgarian: проход (prohod) — passageway
  • Chinese Mandarin: 過道 /过道 (guòdào) — passageway
  • Czech: ulička — passageway
  • Danish: gang — passageway
  • Danish: passage — passageway
  • Finnish: käytävä — passageway
  • Finnish: kulkutie — passageway
  • French: passerelle — passageway
  • French: passage — passageway
  • Georgian: გასასვლელი (gasasvleli) — passageway
  • Georgian: გასავალი (gasavali) — passageway
  • German: Gang — passageway
  • German: Gangway — passageway
  • Italian: corridoio — passageway
  • Japanese: 舷門 (genmon) — passageway
  • Japanese: 通路 (tsūro) — passageway
  • Korean: 통로 (tongno) — passageway
  • Polish: przejście — passageway
  • Portuguese: passagem — passageway
  • Portuguese: passadiço — passageway
  • Russian: прохо́д (proxód) — passageway
  • Spanish: corredor — passageway
  • Ottoman Turkish: دهلیز (dehliz, dihliz) — passageway
  • Ottoman Turkish: آرالق (aralık) — passageway
  • Arabic: جسر مؤقث — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Bulgarian: сходня (shodnja) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Catalan: passarel·la — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Chinese Mandarin: 舷梯 (xiántī) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Czech: nástupní můstek — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Czech: přístavní můstek — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Finnish: laivasilta — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Finnish: laskuportaat — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Finnish: lankonki — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • French: passage — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Georgian: ტრაპი (ṭraṗi) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Georgian: საბიჯელა (sabiǯela) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • German: Gangway — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Hebrew: כבש עליה — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Italian: palanca — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Italian: passerella — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Italian: scalandrone — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Japanese: タラップ (tarappu) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Japanese: 舷梯 (gentei) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Polish: trap — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Portuguese: prancha — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Russian: трап (trap) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Russian: схо́дни (sxódni) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Russian: вы́ход (výxod) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Spanish: pasarela — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Spanish: manga — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Spanish: finger (fínger) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Ottoman Turkish: اسكله (iskele) — temporary bridge for boarding a vessel
  • Chinese Mandarin: 木板道 (mùbǎndào) — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Danish: gangbræt — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Finnish: kulkusilta — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Finnish: lankonki — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • French: passage — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Georgian: ტრაპი (ṭraṗi) — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • German: Landungsbrücke — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Italian: palanca — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Italian: passerella — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Italian: ballatoio — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Japanese: 歩み板 (ayumiita) — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Occitan: palanca — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Polish: trap — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Portuguese: prancha — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Russian: трап (trap) — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Spanish: pasadizo — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Ottoman Turkish: اسكله (iskele) — temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway
  • Chinese Mandarin: 通道 (tōngdào) — clear path through a crowd
  • Czech: ulička — clear path through a crowd
  • Finnish: kulkutie — clear path through a crowd
  • French: passage — clear path through a crowd
  • Georgian: გასასვლელი (gasasvleli) — clear path through a crowd
  • German: Durchgang — clear path through a crowd
  • Italian: largo — clear path through a crowd
  • Japanese: 通路 (tsūro) — clear path through a crowd
  • Polish: przejście — clear path through a crowd
  • Portuguese: passagem — clear path through a crowd
  • Russian: вы́ход (výxod) — clear path through a crowd
  • Russian: прохо́д (proxód) — clear path through a crowd
  • Chinese Mandarin: 舷梯 (xiántī) — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Dutch: gangboord — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Finnish: kävelykansi — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • French: passavant — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Georgian: ტრაპი (ṭraṗi) — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • German: Gangway — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Hebrew: ספון המתנים (sipun hamotnayim) — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Italian: barcarizzo — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Japanese: 舷梯 (gentei) — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Japanese: タラップ (tarappu) — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Latin: agea — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Polish: trap — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Portuguese: portaló — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Russian: трап (trap) — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Russian: шкафу́т (škafút) — nautical: passage on upper deck
  • Bulgarian: трап (trap) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Chinese Mandarin: 舷梯 (xiántī) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Danish: landgang — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Finnish: maihinnousuportti — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • French: passerelle — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Georgian: ტრაპი (ṭraṗi) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • German: Gangway — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Hebrew: כֶּבֶשׁ (kevesh) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Hebrew: גַּמְלָה (gamlah) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Italian: barcarizzo — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Japanese: 舷梯 (gentei) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Japanese: タラップ (tarappu) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Latin: agea — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Norwegian Bokmål: landgang — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: landgang — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Occitan: palanca — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Polish: trap — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Portuguese: portaló — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Russian: трап (trap) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Russian: схо́дни (sxódni) — nautical: passage through the side of a ship
  • Spanish: portalón — nautical: passage through the side of a ship