B2 verb Neutral

via

/ˈvaɪə/

A preposition used to indicate the route taken or the method/medium used to achieve a goal. It typically precedes a location passed through during travel or the specific channel used for communication or transportation.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I'm flying to Tokyo via Dubai to save on the ticket cost.

I'm flying to Tokyo via Dubai to save on the ticket cost.

2

Formal documents should be submitted via the online portal no later than Friday.

Formal documents should be submitted via the online portal no later than Friday.

3

Just send me the photos via WhatsApp when you get a chance.

Just send me the photos via WhatsApp when you get a chance.

Word Family

Noun
viaduct
Verb
deviate
Adjective
devious
Related
way
💡

Memory Tip

Remember 'via' is the Latin word for 'way' or 'road.' Think of a 'viaduct' (a bridge for a road) to help you remember it means 'the way through.'

Quick Quiz

The news spread quickly throughout the office ____ the grapevine.

Correct!

The correct answer is: via

Examples

1

I'm flying to Tokyo via Dubai to save on the ticket cost.

everyday

I'm flying to Tokyo via Dubai to save on the ticket cost.

2

Formal documents should be submitted via the online portal no later than Friday.

formal

Formal documents should be submitted via the online portal no later than Friday.

3

Just send me the photos via WhatsApp when you get a chance.

informal

Just send me the photos via WhatsApp when you get a chance.

4

The researchers gathered the data via a double-blind clinical trial conducted over six months.

academic

The researchers gathered the data via a double-blind clinical trial conducted over six months.

5

The payment was processed via an electronic bank transfer this morning.

business

The payment was processed via an electronic bank transfer this morning.

Word Family

Noun
viaduct
Verb
deviate
Adjective
devious
Related
way

Common Collocations

sent via sent via
travel via travel via
communicated via communicated via
available via available via
access via access via

Common Phrases

via air mail

via air mail

via satellite

via satellite

via the grapevine

via the grapevine

Often Confused With

via vs vice versa

Vice versa means 'the other way around' or 'in reverse order,' whereas via refers to a route or method.

via vs by

While similar, 'via' specifically emphasizes the path or intermediate stop, while 'by' often describes the agent or immediate tool.

📝

Usage Notes

Though technically a preposition, 'via' is essential in technical, travel, and professional contexts to specify intermediate steps. It is increasingly common in digital contexts to describe the platform used for communication.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'via' when 'by' is more idiomatic for simple transport, such as saying 'via car' instead of 'by car.' Avoid using 'via' as a verb.

💡

Memory Tip

Remember 'via' is the Latin word for 'way' or 'road.' Think of a 'viaduct' (a bridge for a road) to help you remember it means 'the way through.'

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin word 'via,' meaning 'way, road, or path.'

Grammar Patterns

Used as a preposition followed by a noun or noun phrase. Commonly follows verbs of movement or communication (e.g., travel via, send via). Does not change form regardless of the subject or tense.
🌍

Cultural Context

In the UK and US, 'via' is frequently seen on public transport displays and international postage labels.

Quick Quiz

The news spread quickly throughout the office ____ the grapevine.

Correct!

The correct answer is: via

Related Words

abmultant

C1

To diversify or branch out extensively from a single origin into multiple complex channels, forms, or applications. It describes the process of systemic expansion where a core entity multiplies its variety or reach.

microdoccide

C1

A specialized chemical substance or agent used to destroy or inhibit the growth of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. It is primarily utilized in industrial, medical, and laboratory settings to ensure sterilization and prevent contamination.

circumminty

C1

The specific micro-atmosphere or olfactory 'halo' of coolness and freshness that surrounds an aromatic source, particularly mint plants or mentholated substances. It describes the spatial reach of a refreshing scent within a localized environment.

micromortious

C1

To calculate or estimate the minute probability of death associated with a specific action, typically measured in units representing a one-in-a-million chance. This verb is used to statistically assess the inherent danger of activities by quantifying potential mortality risks.

underpeline

C1

To provide a strong foundational support or to reinforce the underlying structure of an argument, theory, or physical entity. It describes the act of strengthening the core elements that hold a complex system or idea together to ensure stability.

misdictious

C1

To communicate or record verbal information inaccurately, specifically by confusing similar-sounding words or misinterpreting dictated instructions. It is primarily used in technical or test-based contexts to describe a failure in precise verbal transmission.

proscriber

C1

To officially forbid or prohibit something by law, decree, or social authority. It can also refer to the act of denouncing or condemning a person or group as harmful or dangerous.

triprehendful

C1

A triprehendful refers to a specific quantity of complex information or a situation that requires three distinct perspectives or levels of analysis to be fully grasped. It describes an amount of data or conceptual difficulty that is multifaceted and cannot be simplified into a binary explanation.

adcedency

C1

Adcedency refers to the state of rising to or holding a position of dominant power, influence, or governing authority. It describes the condition of being in control or having a superior status over others in a specific hierarchy or field.

postdynery

C1

To engage in the practice of lingering at a table after a meal has concluded to enjoy conversation and social bonding. This verb describes the transition from the physical act of eating to the intellectual or social act of communal reflection.

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