English Vocabulary

Common Differences Between In the Way and On the Way

In the way is used for obstacles.

• I couldn’t get the car out because those boxes were in the way.
• Please move a bit – you are in my way. (= You are stopping me from getting where I want to.)

On the way means ‘during the journey or movement’. It can also mean ‘coming’.

• Summer is on the way. (Summer is coming.)
• Her fifth baby is on the way. (Her fifth baby is coming.)
• We had our lunch on the way. (We had our lunch during the journey.)

Get the latest updates

 Subscribe in a reader