mile

noun

ˈmī(-ə)l How to pronounce mile (audio)
Synonyms of milenext
1
: any of various units of distance: such as
a
: a unit equal to 5280 feet see Weights and Measures Table
b
: nautical mile
2
: a race of a mile
3
: 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.
see also:
a mile a minute miles from nowhere

Synonyms of mile

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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 area, 2 miles south of the White House, has been at the center of a heated legal battle for months. — Andrew Limbong, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026 The earthquake's epicenter was about 1 mile south-southwest of San Ramon and occurred at a depth of 4 miles. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 This tiny place lies 155 miles north of the Arctic Circle, beside Torneträsk, a 43-mile-long lake. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026 For eclipse day, the mile-long Playa de la Rada is the obvious gathering place, with its broad Mediterranean horizon and proximity to the town center. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 18 Oct. 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

Phrases Containing mile

Rhymes for mile

See All Rhymes for mile

Browse Nearby Words

mild streak
mile
mileage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mile. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mile

noun
ˈmī(ə)l How to pronounce mile (audio)
1
: a unit of measure equal to 5280 feet (about 1609 meters)

called also statute mile

see measure
2
: nautical mile

More from Merriam-Webster on mile

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mile

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