1
a
: a utensil that is usually a hollow cone with a tube extending from the smaller end and that is designed to catch and direct a downward flow
b
: something shaped like a funnel
2
: a stack or flue for the escape of smoke or for ventilation (as on a ship)
funneled also funnelled; funneling also funnelling
1
: to have or take the shape of a funnel
2
: to pass through or as if through a funnel or conduit
the crowd funnels through the doors
1
: to form in the shape of a funnel
funneled his hands and shouted through them
2
: to move to a focal point or into a conduit or central channel
contributions were funneled into one account
Synonyms
Examples of funnel in a Sentence
Noun
the funnel cloud of a tornado
Verb
Winds funneled through the canyon.
Smoke funneled up the chimney.
The crowd funneled through the doors.
He funneled the gas into the tank.
They funneled money into the campaign.
The information was being secretly funneled to the head of the organization.
Recent Examples on the Web
Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Caleb O'Dowd Caleb O'Dowd, the Founder of Multi-Channel Marketing, is a distinguished figure in marketing, renowned for his expertise in crafting ultimate marketing funnels.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Those changes in turn help to limit mechanical strain on the optic nerve head, the funnel through which more than a million nerve fibers from the retina come together to transmit visual signals to the brain.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2024
There’s the googly-eyed water spinner, the hand shower, the removable funnel, and much more.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Located on the very top deck where the funnel or smokestack would traditionally be, the Funnel Suite is essentially the ship’s penthouse, spanning four floors and 9,975 square feet.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
After the funnel was stabilized, the ship returned Monday morning to Port Canaveral and let guests off.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
Stir to combine the ingredients, and pour the mixture into a Mason jar using a funnel.
—Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024
Multiple protrusions can be seen reaching out of the funnel like arms — evidence of horizontal vortexes, which usually only occur in the strongest tornadoes.
—Scott Dance, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
As long as Iran continues to press in its strategy of encircling Israel, and funneling advanced weapons to militant proxies that threaten Israeli population centers, Israel will be compelled to pursue its countervailing campaign against Iran.
—Afshon Ostovar, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2024
After spending 10 years in the top job at one of the world’s biggest oil producers, van Beurden’s suitability for a role funneling billions of dollars into sustainable projects is up for scrutiny.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 17 Apr. 2024
Executives weren’t convinced CNN needed to be operated separately from Max, and felt any subscribers to the news programming ought to be funneled into the larger service,
The decision has cost CNN in many ways.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Federal transportation officials have other avenues to funnel money to Baltimore in addition to the emergency relief fund, said Jeff Davis, senior fellow at the Eno Center for Transportation think tank.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
In the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States has led an effort to funnel more than $88 billion in weapons and security assistance to Kyiv through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which usually meets at an American air base in Ramstein, Germany.
—Lara Jakes, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The world’s largest contract electronics maker has funneled $690 million into the country in the past four years, according to the Wall Street Journal.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 31 Mar. 2024
The ultimate deal funneled tens of billions of dollars in sanctions relief to Iran and allowed the regime to become a greater conventional threat, all while preserving its nuclear ambitions in the long term.
—The Editors, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
Noun
What causes tornadoes Tornadoes are the most violent storms caused by a violently rotating, funnel column of air touching the ground.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Caleb O'Dowd Caleb O'Dowd, the Founder of Multi-Channel Marketing, is a distinguished figure in marketing, renowned for his expertise in crafting ultimate marketing funnels.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Those changes in turn help to limit mechanical strain on the optic nerve head, the funnel through which more than a million nerve fibers from the retina come together to transmit visual signals to the brain.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2024
There’s the googly-eyed water spinner, the hand shower, the removable funnel, and much more.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Located on the very top deck where the funnel or smokestack would traditionally be, the Funnel Suite is essentially the ship’s penthouse, spanning four floors and 9,975 square feet.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
After the funnel was stabilized, the ship returned Monday morning to Port Canaveral and let guests off.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
Stir to combine the ingredients, and pour the mixture into a Mason jar using a funnel.
—Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024
Multiple protrusions can be seen reaching out of the funnel like arms — evidence of horizontal vortexes, which usually only occur in the strongest tornadoes.
—Scott Dance, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Verb
Perhaps the yelp comes from a hiker who’s been struck with awe while climbing ladders into terraced slot canyons that seem to funnel echoes to the heavens.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
As long as Iran continues to press in its strategy of encircling Israel, and funneling advanced weapons to militant proxies that threaten Israeli population centers, Israel will be compelled to pursue its countervailing campaign against Iran.
—Afshon Ostovar, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2024
After spending 10 years in the top job at one of the world’s biggest oil producers, van Beurden’s suitability for a role funneling billions of dollars into sustainable projects is up for scrutiny.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 17 Apr. 2024
Executives weren’t convinced CNN needed to be operated separately from Max, and felt any subscribers to the news programming ought to be funneled into the larger service,
The decision has cost CNN in many ways.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Federal transportation officials have other avenues to funnel money to Baltimore in addition to the emergency relief fund, said Jeff Davis, senior fellow at the Eno Center for Transportation think tank.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
In the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States has led an effort to funnel more than $88 billion in weapons and security assistance to Kyiv through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which usually meets at an American air base in Ramstein, Germany.
—Lara Jakes, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The world’s largest contract electronics maker has funneled $690 million into the country in the past four years, according to the Wall Street Journal.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 31 Mar. 2024
The ultimate deal funneled tens of billions of dollars in sanctions relief to Iran and allowed the regime to become a greater conventional threat, all while preserving its nuclear ambitions in the long term.
—The Editors, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'funnel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near funnel
Cite this Entry
“Funnel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funnel. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
funnel
1 of 2 noun
fun·nel
ˈfən-ᵊl 
1
: a utensil usually shaped like a hollow cone with a tube extending from the point and used to catch and direct a downward flow (as of liquid)
2
: something shaped like a funnel
the funnel cloud of a tornado
3
: a large pipe for the escape of smoke or for ventilation (as on a ship)
funnel
2 of 2 verb
funneled also funnelled; funneling also funnelling
: to move or cause to move to a central point or into a central channel
Medical Definition
funnel
noun
fun·nel
ˈfən-ᵊl
: a utensil that is usually a hollow cone with a tube extending from the smaller end and that is designed to catch and direct a downward flow see büchner funnel
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