throttle

1 of 2

verb

throt·​tle ˈthrä-tᵊl 

throttled; throttling ˈthrä-tᵊl-iŋ 

ˈthrät-liŋ

; throttles

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to compress the throat of : choke

(2)

: to kill by such action

b

: to prevent or check expression or activity of : suppress

policies that throttle creativity

c

US, informal : to defeat easily or completely

The Jets went to Miami and throttled the Dolphins.

—Judy Battista

2

a

: to decrease the flow of (something, such as steam or fuel to an engine) by a valve

b

: to regulate and especially to reduce the speed of (something, such as an engine) by such means

c

: to vary the thrust of (a rocket engine) during flight

3

: to limit or reduce (the bandwidth available to users of an electronic communication system, such as the Internet) : to subject to throttling (see throttling sense 2)

The company throttles data access for customers who use a lot of data during moments of network congestion …

—Matt Day

intransitive verb

: to throttle something (something, such as an engine)

—usually used with back or down

the pilot throttled back

throttler

ˈthrät-lər, 

ˈthrä-tᵊl-ər 

noun

throttle

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a valve for regulating the supply of a fluid (such as steam) to an engine

especially : the valve controlling the volume of vaporized fuel charge delivered to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine

b

: the lever controlling this valve

c

: the condition of being throttled

2

a

: throat sense 1a

b

: trachea sense 1

Phrases

at full throttle

: at full speed

the project is proceeding at full throttle

Synonyms of throttle

Verb

• choke
• strangle

Examples of throttle in a Sentence

Verb

I was so angry at what he was saying that I could have throttled him!

Noun

When you press a car's accelerator, it opens the throttle, and the car goes faster.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Bills defense throttles Steelers offense Buffalo survived, little thanks to its offense. —The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025

Now teams are responding by putting a bigger emphasis on defense, playing with a throttling full-court intensity. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025

Noun

One baseball writer believes New York will go full-throttle in its bid for the most coveted international pitcher of this year's free-agent class. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Class 1 e-bikes use pedal assist and must not exceed 20 mph; Class 2 e-bikes include a throttle and also must not exceed 20 mph; and Class 3 e-bikes use pedal assist that must not exceed 28 mph. —Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English throtelen, from throte throat

Noun

perhaps from Middle English *throtel, diminutive of throte throat

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing throttle

• at full throttle
• throttle back

Rhymes for throttle

• bottle
• cottle
• glottal
• mottle
• pottle
• scrotal
• wattle
• nahuatl

Kids Definition

throttle

1 of 2 verb

throt·​tle ˈthrät-ᵊl 

throttled; throttling ˈthrät-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to slow or stop the breathing of : choke, strangle

2

: to reduce the speed of (an engine) by closing the throttle

throttler

-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun

throttle

2 of 2 noun

1

: a valve controlling the flow of steam or fuel to an engine

2

: a lever controlling a throttle