ave

ave — abbreviation

1. the short written form of "avenue", used in street names, addresses, maps, and p

1.abbreviationA2
Definition

the short written form of "avenue", used in street names, addresses, maps, and postal labels.

Example

Write 1500 Garden Ave. on the envelope before mailing it.

number + street name + Ave. in an address

The bakery on River Ave. sells hot buns every morning.

Common collocations
  • Garden Ave.
  • Park Ave.
  • [number] [name] Ave.
Synonyms
  • avenue

    the full word, used when the street type is written out instead of shortened

Grammar Patterns

[name] Ave.

[number] [name] Ave.

on + [name] Ave.

Usage Note

Almost always seen in writing, especially in addresses and on maps. The abbreviation follows the street name, not the other way around. Many American styles write it as "Ave.", while some signs and forms drop the final period.

Common Mistakes

I live on Ave. Garden.
I live on Garden Ave.
In street names, the abbreviation comes after the name, not before it.
Meet me at Garden Avenue Ave.
Meet me at Garden Ave.
Do not write both the full word and the abbreviation together.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: abbreviation/1

Ave., St., Rd., and Blvd. are all common road-name abbreviations, but they usually point to different kinds of streets. Ave. often suggests a broad city road and is common in postal addresses. St. is the ordinary label for a street inside a town. Rd. is wider in meaning and can describe routes inside or between places. Blvd. usually suggests a wide, important road with a more formal feel. In normal address writing, the abbreviation comes after the road name: Park Ave., King St., or Hill Rd. When you fill in a form or address an envelope, use the abbreviation that belongs to the official street name.

Ave.St.Rd.Blvd.

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • [number] [name] Ave.
  • turn onto [name] Ave.

Prepositions

  • on + [name] Ave.
  • at + [number] [name] Ave.

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

"Ave." is a shortened written form of "avenue." The full word came into English through French and originally referred to a way of arriving or an approach to a place. Over time, English used it for a broad road, often one leading to an important building or lined with trees, and the abbreviation became standard in addresses.

First known use

13th century

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2