rut
1
a settled and monotonous routine that is hard to escape
Synonyms:
2
a groove or track made in a road by cars driving over it many times
A rut is a long, narrow groove or mark that forms in a road or path due to repeated pressure, often from vehicles. It happens when the surface wears down over time, creating visible tracks in the ground. Ruts are most commonly seen on dirt or gravel roads, but they can also appear on paved roads if the traffic is heavy enough. Ruts can make driving uncomfortable and potentially dangerous, as they can cause vehicles to go off track or get stuck. Fixing ruts usually involves leveling the surface and adding new material to smooth out the road.
- The dirt road was full of deep ruts after the heavy rain.
- She navigated carefully to avoid the ruts in the gravel path.
- Ruts can develop quickly on unpaved roads.
- They graded the road to smooth out the ruts.
- The ruts made driving difficult for small cars.