How to Pronounce Leeway

To pronounce "leeway", say LEEW-ay — 2 syllables, IPA /[ˈliːˌweɪ]/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

leeway

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/[ˈliːˌweɪ]/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “leeway”

"leeway" has 2 syllables: leew-ay. It rhymes with convey and display, if that helps it stick.

What does leeway mean?

noun

The drift of a ship or airplane in a leeward direction.
A varying degree or amount of freedom or flexibility; margin, latitude, elbowroom.
“I don't think we have a lot of leeway when it comes to proper formatting.”

Synonyms

flexibility freedom latitude wiggle room

Hear “leeway” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with leeway

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

convey display dismay sobriquet disarray allay gay decay play portray cache fray

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "leeway"?▾

"Leeway" has 2 syllables: leew · ay.

What is the IPA transcription of "leeway"?▾

The IPA transcription of "leeway" is /[ˈliːˌweɪ]/.

What does "leeway" mean?▾

Leeway: The drift of a ship or airplane in a leeward direction.

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