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
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
Like his crewmates, Dominick will sleep tethered to a wall, eat many of his meals out of a pouch and urinate into a funnel and hose.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2024
Other methods include handmade sun funnels, as well as the pricey Sunspotters and Solarscopes, which are better-suited for groups like astronomy clubs, schools, museums and planetariums.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024
Every inch of the home’s outdoor space is funnels rainwater into seven underground cement reservoirs.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2024
Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
The resulting data dump has provided a rare glimpse into the machinery of Indian politics, revealing how $2 billion have been secretly funneled by Indian companies into political parties since 2018, with roughly half going toward the ruling BJP.
—Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
The state budget for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1, would have funneled more than $16 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to dole out the $120 benefit per school-aged child.
—Ian Max Stevenson and, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2024
Last year, generative AI went through a transformation period, becoming a hot topic and commodity as investors funneled billions into said tools.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024
Instead, developers are building houses that funnel wealth to rental owners and managers, not families.
—Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024
Cranston backers funneled money into the campaign of Edward Vallen, the candidate for the conservative American Independent Party.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
That, in turn, limits them from providing tap-to-pay capabilities and, again, funnels iPhone users into Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
As an ongoing civil lawsuit in Mississippi alleges, too often these funds get funneled into the pockets of wealthy donors through grants rather than going to the poor as intended.
—TIME, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
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
Like his crewmates, Dominick will sleep tethered to a wall, eat many of his meals out of a pouch and urinate into a funnel and hose.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2024
Other methods include handmade sun funnels, as well as the pricey Sunspotters and Solarscopes, which are better-suited for groups like astronomy clubs, schools, museums and planetariums.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024
Every inch of the home’s outdoor space is funnels rainwater into seven underground cement reservoirs.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Through the initiative, an additional $5 million is being funneled through DonorsChoose, a nonprofit that allows people to donate directly to public school classrooms.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
The resulting data dump has provided a rare glimpse into the machinery of Indian politics, revealing how $2 billion have been secretly funneled by Indian companies into political parties since 2018, with roughly half going toward the ruling BJP.
—Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
The state budget for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1, would have funneled more than $16 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to dole out the $120 benefit per school-aged child.
—Ian Max Stevenson and, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2024
Last year, generative AI went through a transformation period, becoming a hot topic and commodity as investors funneled billions into said tools.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024
Instead, developers are building houses that funnel wealth to rental owners and managers, not families.
—Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024
Cranston backers funneled money into the campaign of Edward Vallen, the candidate for the conservative American Independent Party.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
That, in turn, limits them from providing tap-to-pay capabilities and, again, funnels iPhone users into Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024
As an ongoing civil lawsuit in Mississippi alleges, too often these funds get funneled into the pockets of wealthy donors through grants rather than going to the poor as intended.
—TIME, 21 Mar. 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 19 Apr. 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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