Make way means to move aside to let someone pass, or to clear space for something new. In the first meaning it is about people and vehicles: make way for the ambulance. In the second it is about replacing the old with the new: an old building is knocked down to make way for new flats.
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make way + for + person/vehicle; make way + for + something new
- Could everyone make way for the waiters? They're carrying hot soup.
- The old factory was knocked down to make way for new flats and a school.
- Two senior managers stepped down to make way for a younger team.
What changed
First versionThe drivers moved to the side of the road to make way to the ambulance.
RevisionThe drivers moved to the side of the road to make way for the ambulance.
It is easy to use to here, as if you were giving the road to the ambulance. But make way is followed by for: make way for the ambulance.
Don't confuse it with make your way, which means to go somewhere, to move towards a place: We made our way to the exit. Here the person moves forward instead of stepping aside for others.
Your turn
The old stadium will be pulled down next year to ___ for a new park.
Show the answer
make way — The stadium is being pulled down so that a park can appear in its place, so you need make way for. In British English, give way means to let other traffic go first at a junction, and it is followed by to, not for.
Write about a change in your town or neighbourhood. Say what was knocked down or removed and what appeared in its place.
Last year they knocked down the old garages near my house to make way for a playground, which opened in May.
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