alleyway
Gap between buildings
An alleyway is a narrow passage between or behind buildings, typically too small for vehicles.
The word is interchangeable with alley: We cut through the alleyway to avoid the crowd.
Alleyways often appear in urban settings as service routes, shortcuts, or shadowy spaces in crime fiction.
Designated travel strip
- passagewayEnclosed route between spaces
- corridorEnclosed connecting walkway
- walkwayPath for foot traffic
- footpathRoute for pedestrians
thoroughfare · cut-through · shortcut · backstreet · sidestreet · close · arcade · accessway
Commercial refuse container
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- litterScattered waste or debris
- trashDiscarded worthless material
- brickFired clay building unit
cobblestone · drain · gutter · backdoor · pavement · asphalt · manhole · pipes
Coarse or courageous
claustrophobic · foreboding · grimy · dank · musty · secluded · hushed · forgotten
Concealed from authorities
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- covertIntentionally concealed
- hiddenKept out of sight
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
rendezvous · deals · whispered · surreptitious · underworld · smuggling · escape · discreet
lane
Designated travel strip
- passagewayEnclosed route between spaces
- corridorEnclosed connecting walkway
- walkwayPath for foot traffic
footpath · thoroughfare · cut-through · shortcut · backstreet · sidestreet · close · arcade · accessway · egress
dumpster
Commercial refuse container
brick · cobblestone · drain · gutter · backdoor · pavement · asphalt · manhole · pipes · puddles
gritty
Coarse or courageous
narrow · claustrophobic · foreboding · grimy · dank · musty · secluded · hushed · forgotten · neglected
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
concealed · rendezvous · deals · whispered · surreptitious · underworld · smuggling · escape · discreet · stealthy
moonlit
Bathed in lunar glow
- lamppostPole bearing overhead light
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- nightfallOnset of darkness
twilight · darkness · shadows · streetlight · midnight · dusk · prowling · lurking · cats · rats
- cityscape paintingskyline, rooftop view, rainy street, downtown, skyscrapers
- streetscapestreet lamp, street trees, streetlight, street furniture, street light
- alleysbackstreet, narrow lane, narrow passage, passageway, lane
- public spacespark, plaza, street, city parks, public parks
- Old Towncobblestone streets, cobblestone street, cobblestones, market square, town square
- townscapebuildings, facades, rooftops, streets, windows
alleywayhighway
Major road for travel
main road · boulevard · freeway · expressway · thoroughfare
alleywaytown square
Central civic space
public square · piazza · esplanade · courtyard · open field
alleywayblockage
Obstruction halting movement
dead end · barrier · wall · obstruction
- back alleywayNarrow rear passage