gateway

/ˈɡeɪtweɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgāt-ˌwā/ (ame, mw)

gateway — noun

  • gatewaysingular
  • gatewaysplural

1. a space in a fence, wall, or other barrier that is fitted with a gate and allows

1.名詞B1
釋義

a space in a fence, wall, or other barrier that is fitted with a gate and allows people or vehicles to go through

例句

The old stone wall had a wooden gateway that creaked when anyone pushed it open.

gateway + adjective (wooden / iron / stone)

Putri walked through the garden gateway and found herself in a field of wildflowers.

preposition: through + gateway

同義詞
  • doorway

    refers to an opening in a building wall rather than an outdoor fence or wall

  • entrance

    more general; any way in, not necessarily one closed by a gate

  • portal

    more formal or literary; suggests a large or impressive entrance

反義詞
  • barrier

    something that blocks the opening rather than allowing passage through it

文法句型

gateway + preposition (through/into)

用法筆記

The word gateway names the opening itself — the space where a gate is fitted — while gate refers to the movable panel or door that closes the opening.

常見錯誤

He locked the gateway behind him.
He locked the gate behind him.
💡A gateway is the opening; a gate is the object you lock or open.

2. a town, city, port, or airport that people must pass through in order to reach a

2.名詞B1
釋義

a town, city, port, or airport that people must pass through in order to reach a larger region or area beyond it

例句

The port city of Kaohsiung has long served as a gateway to southern Taiwan.

gateway to [region] — geographic transit hub

Singapore is widely known as the main gateway for travellers heading into Southeast Asia.

gateway for + travellers / visitors

同義詞
  • hub

    focuses on activity and transport connections rather than being a pass-through point

  • entry point

    more neutral; describes any place where you first enter a region

文法句型

gateway to + place / area

用法筆記

This sense is almost always used with the preposition to followed by a region or area name. Singular form is far more common than plural.

3. an opportunity, experience, or method that helps you reach a desired goal, enter

3.名詞B2
釋義

an opportunity, experience, or method that helps you reach a desired goal, enter a new career, or gain access to something you want

例句

A university degree can be a gateway to a career in medicine or law.

gateway to a career / profession

For Antonia, learning to code was a gateway to a job at a top technology company.

gateway to + noun phrase (job / opportunity)

同義詞
  • pathway

    suggests a longer, more gradual journey rather than a single entry point

  • route

    implies a specific planned course of action

  • key

    stresses that something is essential in order to begin, not just helpful

反義詞
  • barrier

    something that blocks progress rather than enabling it

  • obstacle

    an impediment in the way of achieving a goal

文法句型

gateway to + noun / gerund phrase

用法筆記

Almost always followed by to (or occasionally into) + a noun or gerund phrase describing the desired outcome. This is the most common sense of gateway in non-technical writing and speech.

常見錯誤

Hard work is a gateway of success.
Hard work is a gateway to success.
💡Use to, not of, after gateway in this figurative sense.

4. a piece of software, hardware, or digital service that connects separate parts o

4.名詞B2
釋義

a piece of software, hardware, or digital service that connects separate parts of a computer system or network, allowing data or functions to be shared between them

例句

The payment system serves as a gateway between the online store and the bank.

gateway between [system A] and [system B]

Developers use the API as a gateway to access the company's customer database.

同義詞
  • bridge

    a simpler, more general term for something that connects two systems

  • interface

    technical term for the point where two systems meet and interact

  • portal

    more common for a user-facing web page that provides access to multiple services

文法句型

gateway + preposition (between / for)

用法筆記

Frequently used in information technology contexts. A gateway can manage security, translate data between formats, or route traffic — its core function is always connecting two otherwise separate systems.