doorway

noun

door·​way ˈdȯr-ˌwā How to pronounce doorway (audio)
Synonyms of doorwaynext
1
: the opening that a door closes
especially : an entrance into a building or room
2
: door sense 3

Synonyms of doorway

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of doorway in a Sentence

Please don't block the doorway. She stepped through the doorway. He stood in the doorway, wondering if he should go in. Homeless people sleep in the doorways of the shops.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prosecutors said David William Denton used a pocket torch to vandalize and burn a Jewish mezuzah scroll affixed to the doorway of the center. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 However, remote access creates another potential doorway for attackers. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 One wall moves, a doorway shifts or a fixture is relocated, but the revision may no longer relate perfectly to the original design. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 30 July 2026 The solar eclipse in Leo on August 12 could amount to a revolving cosmic doorway of sorts, one where important relationships both exit and enter as the curtains close and open again in the ongoing drama of your life. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for doorway

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of doorway was in 1653

Rhymes for doorway

See All Rhymes for doorway

Browse Nearby Words

doorward
doorway
doorweed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doorway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doorway. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

doorway

noun
door·​way -ˌwā How to pronounce doorway (audio)
1
: the opening or passage that a door closes
2
: a means of reaching or gaining something
the doorway to success

More from Merriam-Webster on doorway

Nglish: Translation of doorway for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All