Hallway Meaning

UK /ˈhɔːlweɪ/
US /ˈhɔːlweɪ/
Word Definition
hallway meaning

Hallway Definition & Usage

noun

A long passage in a building, typically with rooms opening off it.

Examples

  • "She walked down the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the silence."
  • "The hallway was lined with family photos, creating a warm atmosphere."
  • "They painted the hallway walls a soft blue to make the space feel more inviting."
  • "The house had a wide hallway leading from the front door to the living room."
  • "At the end of the hallway, there was a door that led to the garden."
noun

A transitional space or period, especially in a figurative sense (e.g., a metaphorical hallway between two stages of life or events).

Examples

  • "After losing her job, she felt like she was stuck in a hallway, unsure of what her next step would be."
  • "The project is in a hallway phase right now; we're waiting for approval before we can move forward."
  • "The hallway of adolescence was tough, but it led to the rewarding experience of adulthood."
  • "The negotiations were dragging on, and they felt like they were stuck in a hallway without a clear exit."
  • "He was in the hallway of his career, unsure whether to continue in his current job or switch fields."

Cultural Context

Hallways are ubiquitous in architectural design, seen in homes, office buildings, schools, and hospitals. In Western cultures, hallways are typically narrow, elongated spaces that provide access to rooms or sections of a building. In many homes, hallways serve as a central feature linking various parts of the house, and can be decorated to reflect personal style.

The Hallway of Choices

Story

The Hallway of Choices

Maya stood at the end of the long hallway, her gaze drifting to the two doors ahead. The hallway was dimly lit, the soft glow from a single lightbulb hanging overhead casting shadows along the walls. The air felt heavy, like the space itself was waiting for her decision. One door led to her past, to the life she had carefully built, while the other promised something unknown—a new chapter she wasn't sure she was ready for. Her heart raced as she walked toward the first door. It had been easy to stay in the comfort of what was familiar. The hallway between these two doors had felt endless, as if time had stretched out to make her decision even harder. She reached for the handle, but then paused. Maya turned toward the second door. For a moment, she just stood there, staring at it. What lay beyond it? A new career, a new home, a new life? The unknown was daunting, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was calling her. The hallway between these two choices was not just a physical space—it was a space of transformation, of growth. As she walked toward the second door, Maya realized that she had been living in this hallway for far too long. The decision had been waiting for her, and she had been avoiding it, afraid of what lay ahead. But now, as she reached for the handle of the second door, she felt a wave of peace. The hallway, with all its uncertainty, was finally leading her somewhere new. Maya stepped through the door, leaving the hallway behind her, and into the unknown.

The Hallway of Choices