making way for

USAGE SUMMARY

"making way for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to giving way, or moving aside, to make something available or possible. For example: The crowded hallway was noisy, but the students quickly made way for the teacher as they saw her coming down the corridor.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Making way for progress," he said.

The New York Times

Proof is: They're making way for cheeseburgers and fries.

The New York Times

Bulldozers are making way for new military shelters.

The New York Times

These days court jesters are making way for supermodel minstrels.

The Guardian - Film

Houses on this street being torn down, making way for Apartments.

The New Yorker

Rescue and immediate relief operations are now making way for more sustained help for the survivors.

The Economist

Making way for so much music means that "Motown" breezily scrimps on storytelling.

The New York Times

Mr Trichet will step down at the end of October, making way for Italy's Mario Draghi.

The Economist

On many fronts, traditional periodicals and books are making way for blogs and other electronic formats.

The New Yorker

Diebler responded with a big shot of his own, making way for Knight.

The New York Times - Sports

Parel's cloth mills shut down, making way for offices, shopping malls and bars.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "making way for", ensure the sentence clearly indicates both the entity being replaced and the entity taking its place. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "making way for" without specifying what is being introduced or enabled. Always clarify what is benefiting from the action to maintain sentence coherence and relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making way for" functions as a prepositional phrase, often serving as part of a verb phrase to indicate that something is being replaced or superseded by something else. Ludwig confirms this usage with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making way for" is a versatile and commonly used expression that signifies substitution or transition. As supported by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and frequently appears in news and media, as well as sports and business contexts. It conveys a neutral tone, indicating that an existing entity is being replaced by something new. For alternative expressions, consider ""paving the way for"" or ""yielding to"" to achieve similar communicative effects. Always ensure clarity in your writing by specifying both the replaced and replacing entities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clearing the path for

Focuses on removing obstacles to enable progress.

paving the way for

Highlights the preparation and facilitation of future actions.

yielding to

Emphasizes surrender or submission to something else.

giving precedence to

Stresses the priority given to a particular entity or event.

substituting with

Focuses on replacing one thing with another.

opening up opportunities for

Highlights creating new possibilities or chances.

displacing with

Focuses on the act of removing something to allow for a replacement.

being replaced by

Indicates that something is being superseded or substituted.

superseding with

Implies that something is taking the place of something older or obsolete.

vacating in favor of

Highlights the act of leaving to allow someone or something else to take over.

FAQs

How can I use "making way for" in a sentence?

Use "making way for" to show that something is being replaced or superseded. For instance, "The old system is "making way for" a new, more efficient one".

What are some alternatives to "making way for"?

Alternatives include "paving the way for", "yielding to", or "giving precedence to", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "make way for" instead of "making way for"?

Yes, "make way for" is also correct, but it functions as an imperative or command, while "making way for" describes an ongoing action or process. For example, "Make way for the parade!" versus "Construction is "making way for" the new stadium".

What's the difference between "making way for" and "making room for"?

"Making way for" often implies a substitution or replacement, whereas "making room for" suggests creating additional space. For instance, "The company is "making way for" new leadership" (replacement) versus "The city is "making room for" more bike lanes" (additional space).