Seaway Meaning
/sˈiˌweɪ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA lane or route at sea that is regularly used by ships; a sea lane or trade route.
nounAn inland waterway used by seagoing shipping.
Sentence Examples
The ship entered the Saint Lawrence Seaway early this morning.
A seaway is a route through the ocean or a connecting waterway.
Cargo ships navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway to reach the lakes.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The cargo ships used the ____ to bypass the dangerous cape and save time.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The St. Lawrence ____ allows ocean-going vessels to travel deep into the North American interior.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English seewey, from Old English sǣweġ (“a seaway, a path through the sea”), equivalent to sea + way. Compare Saterland Frisian Seegong (“seaway, swell”), German Seegang (“seaway, swell”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The coracle […] was a very safe boat for a person of my height and weight, both buoyant and clever in a seaway; but she was the most cross-grained, lop-sided craft to manage."
— 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The cargo ships used the ____ to bypass the dangerous cape and save time.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The St. Lawrence ____ allows ocean-going vessels to travel deep into the North American interior.