motorway vs expressway

Both 'motorway' and 'expressway' are correct terms used to describe a type of high-speed road designed for long-distance travel. The choice between them depends on the regional dialect or the country where the road is located.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 1099 views

The term 'motorway' is commonly used in British English and some other countries to refer to a high-speed road where access is restricted to motor vehicles only.

"motorway"

Use 'motorway' to describe a multi-lane highway designed for high-speed traffic, typically with controlled access and no intersections at grade.

Examples:

We drove on the motorway to get to the airport.
The motorway was closed due to an accident.
The motorway network in the UK is extensive.
You should take the motorway if you want to reach the city quickly.
The motorway was congested with traffic during rush hour.

Show examples from the web [+]

Under the motorway, same as last time.
The motorway is 20 miles further, but probably better for fuel consumption.
Poland is planning, in particular, to extend its road and motorway network.
It is urgently necessary for the Egnatia Road Company to replace the motorway barrier before any human fatalities occur.
They want to extend the motorway right through here.
Perhaps he could show me an underground motorway.
This does not look like a motorway to me.
They closed the motorway for 18 hours.
She's travelling eastbound on the fast lane of the motorway at about 80mph.
CCTV's just caught it crossing the motorway at Erdberg.
If we walk six fields northwest, there's a motorway running perpendicular.
It's on a motorway in broad daylight.
Firstly, whether Austria should simply be allowed to maintain these higher tolls on the Brenner motorway.
Well, we checked more towards the other side of the motorway.
I'm calling from a café, on the motorway.
I have never braked on a motorway.
Release Tom and Greg and meet us on the motorway.
The final stretch of motorway to Saint Tropez.
For example, we recently did this for a motorway in Greece.
The motorway that is under construction in Transylvania could likewise cause serious environmental damage.

Alternatives:

freeway
highway
interstate

The term 'expressway' is commonly used in American English and some other countries to refer to a high-speed road with limited access and designed for high-speed traffic.

"expressway"

Use 'expressway' to describe a divided highway with controlled access and grade-separated intersections, often used for long-distance travel.

Examples:

The expressway was busy with commuters heading home.
Take the expressway if you want to avoid city traffic.
The new expressway reduced travel time between the two cities.
The expressway is a convenient route for long-distance travel.
The expressway was closed for maintenance over the weekend.

Show examples from the web [+]

Instead, they take the Long island expressway and head east to the Hamptons.
A lot of cars speed by on this expressway day and night.
There has been an accident at Tremble Road and the expressway.
Taking fire above and below expressway.
But tell Zach not to get on the expressway.
Mom says don't get on the expressway.
We are now entering the expressway at Belmont.
Says it was destroyed to make way for a hyperspace expressway.
This expressway connects Tokyo with Nagoya.
That's good news because we got hundreds of people living underneath the expressway and camped out on Duncan Plaza right across from city hall.
The Long Island expressway is the biggest parking lot in the world.
The seeds from these trees also have spread by birds here and there nearby the soundproof walls of the city expressway that has been built around the 1988 Olympics.
And I was getting on the expressway, and suddenly I had this very strong feeling that you were dead.
No, you're going towards the expressway!
A listener tells us there's a big hairy dog... hanging out on the expressway.
Or it was until the Vogons destroyed it to make way for a hyperspace expressway.
Put one of these in every door between the expressway and Winchester, and from Freemont to Fulton.
I think I ran over a Wookiee back there on the expressway.
When would we get to stand in the middle of an expressway?
He's headed for the Star City expressway, probably high-tailing his way back to Central City.

Alternatives:

highway
freeway
motorway

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motorway vs expressway

"motorway"

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