plural alleys
1
: a garden or park walk bordered by trees or bushes
2
a(1)
: a grassed enclosure for bowling or skittles
(2)
: a hardwood lane for bowling
also
: a room or building housing a group of such lanes
b
: the space on each side of a tennis doubles court between the sideline and the service sideline
c
: an area in a baseball outfield between two outfielders when they are in normal positions
hit a line drive into the alley
3
: a narrow street
especially
: a thoroughfare through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings
4
: an extensive region where destructive natural phenomena of a specified type (such as tornadoes) occur often or are likely to occur
The most obvious tornado alley extends from the plains of northwest Texas eastward into north Texas and then northward across Oklahoma, Kansas, and eastern Nebraska.—
Tom Konvicka
Tom KonvickaExamples of alley in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024
Afterward, Rivera told the deputies, the shooter climbed in the passenger side of a Cadillac that was waiting in a nearby alley and left.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Mercury in Sagittarius is lighting up your 11th house of friendships, social networks and future visions, so you’re as drawn as ever to the social scene, which is already up your alley.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Council member Brooke Pinto recommends signing up for D.C. alerts and monitoring alleys and loading docks.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for alley 
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.
Noun
Chances are good our adventurous readers have taken a trip that’s right up your alley — and then shared not only their travel adventures but their practical tips, too.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024
Afterward, Rivera told the deputies, the shooter climbed in the passenger side of a Cadillac that was waiting in a nearby alley and left.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Mercury in Sagittarius is lighting up your 11th house of friendships, social networks and future visions, so you’re as drawn as ever to the social scene, which is already up your alley.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Council member Brooke Pinto recommends signing up for D.C. alerts and monitoring alleys and loading docks.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for alley
Dictionary Entries Near alley
Cite this Entry
“Alley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alley. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share