mile

noun

ˈmī(-ə)l

Synonyms of mile

: any of various units of distance: such as

: a unit equal to 5280 feet see Weights and Measures Table

: nautical mile

: a race of a mile

: a relatively great distance, degree, or interval

—usually plural

was miles ahead of them in education

—sometimes used adverbially

This one is miles [=much, far] better than that one.

Examples of mile in a Sentence

We passed mile after mile of beautiful scenery as we drove through the country. We traveled over miles of dirt road. The car was traveling at 70 miles per hour. We were miles from home. We still have miles to go. The beach stretched on for miles and miles.

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.

The National Weather Service called for blowing dust early Friday evening and a 20% chance of rain on Sunday for nearby Gerlach, Nevada, a community of 58 people about 100 miles north of Reno. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026 Target your flight search to departure airports that regularly offer the greatest number of points and miles deals. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026 Memorial Circle is less than 2 miles from the final approach path of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 The Navy called off the search for Gabriel Edwards after four days, covering 14,000 square miles. — Catherine Bouvet, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mile

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English mīl, from Latin milia miles, from milia passuum, literally, thousands of paces, from milia, plural of mille thousand

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of mile was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mile. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mile

noun

ˈmī(ə)l

: a unit of measure equal to 5280 feet (about 1609 meters)

called also statute mile

see measure

: nautical mile

mile

noun

Synonyms of mile

Examples of mile in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

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mile

noun

Synonyms of mile

Examples of mile in a Sentence

Word History

Phrases Containing mile

Rhymes for mile

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to mile

Obscure Units of Measurement Quiz

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on mile

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