funnel

noun

fun·nel | \ ˈfə-nᵊl

Definition of funnel

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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)

funnel

verb

funneled also funnelled; funneling also funnelling

Definition of funnel (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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 More Example Sentences Learn More about funnel

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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: Noun

Several readers caught this odd-looking funnel over Northern Virginia on Sunday evening. — Angela Fritz, Washington Post, "What’s up with the mystery funnel cloud over Northern Virginia on Sunday," 19 June 2018 Cash Pipelines North Korea maintains embassies in dozens of countries around the world, where analysts and officials say Pyongyang's agents are helping funnel foreign currency from illicit operations back to the country. — Ian Talley, WSJ, "U.S. Holds Off on New North Korea Sanctions as Summit Talks Progress," 28 May 2018 And terrain like mountain gaps or Turnagain Arm serve as wind-intensifying funnels. — Laurel Andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "Hillside home loses roof as gusts usher in Southcentral Alaska windstorm," 24 Apr. 2018 Put chicken wire alongside it to create a funnel of sorts to channel the animals into the traps. — Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, "Nutsedge or other nuisance? How to tell the difference," 13 July 2018 Funnel cake at Mimi's Cafe Courtesy of Mimi's Cafe Mimi's Cafe The chain will offer a free funnel cake dusted with powdered sugar and topped with fresh strawberry slices, blueberries and whipped cream. — Robert Philpot, star-telegram, "DFW restaurants get patriotic with red-white-and-blue creations for July 4," 29 June 2018 Sikorsky: One time, one of our workers was at a veterinarian’s office and saw one of those dog funnels. — Popular Mechanics, "The Future of American Manufacturing," 23 May 2018 In Winsted, winds around the funnel reached 95 mph and tore up an eight-block stretch of town. — Rebecca Lurye, courant.com, "Eversource Aims To Restore Power By Sunday; 91 Miles Of Power Lines Damaged," 18 May 2018 Gut-busting, artery-clogging mishmashes of bacon and deep-fryer oil are once again on the California State Fair's menu in 2018, and some options really take the funnel cake. — Benjy Egel, sacbee, "Chew on this: These are the 20 wildest foods for sale at this year’s State Fair," 12 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The complaint also alleged a scheme to attempt to funnel payments to an additional Louisville recruit's family, citing a recording of a hotel room meeting in July 2017. — Gentry Estes, The Courier-Journal, "Former Louisville assistant coach Jordan Fair is back coaching in AAU," 12 July 2018 Beijing, meanwhile, has unveiled measures to help Chinese companies absorb the U.S. trade blows, pledging to funnel money collected from its own import levies to firms and workers tangled in the escalating trade war. — Danielle Paquette, latimes.com, "U.S. proposes tariffs on $200 billion more in Chinese imports," 11 July 2018 Of course, the point of these devices, from a strategic standpoint, is to funnel users’ retail search queries to the manufacturer’s own services. — David Meyer, Fortune, "A Google Home in Every Kitchen: Morgan Stanley Tells Alphabet to Flood the U.S. With Devices to Fight Off Amazon," 29 June 2018 Privately, however, Conway encouraged colleagues to funnel money for independent expenditures through a PAC called Progress San Francisco. — Nitasha Tiku, WIRED, "How Tech Shaped San Francisco’s Unresolved Mayor’s Race," 11 June 2018 Prosecutors say Kelly Norton was the conduit Johnson used to funnel $31,000 to Sherry Pierce. — Ryan Randazzo, azcentral, "Witness recounts decision to testify against her ex-husband in bribery case," 6 June 2018 The Kaikias project and its first four wells, which weren't expected to come online until 2019, connect to Shell's Ursa platform in the Gulf and will use Shell's deepwater Mars pipeline to funnel oil and gas. — Jordan Blum, Houston Chronicle, "Shell kicks off production with Kaikias in Gulf of Mexico," 1 June 2018 The payments look more like traditional in influence peddling, albeit an especially gross form carried out in a way designed to avoid any public disclosure, and not a way to funnel money to Trump’s mistresses. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "How Badly Has Russia Compromised American Government? [Updated]," 8 May 2018 Warnings signs since 2014 The company has tried without success since 2014 to have its local companies such as the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. increase charges to funnel additional dollars to the power plants. — John Funk, cleveland.com, "Davis-Besse, Perry nuclear plants could close as FirstEnergy closes deal with hedge funds," 22 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'funnel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

20 Sep 2018

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Time Traveler for funnel

The first known use of funnel was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for funnel

funnel

noun

English Language Learners Definition of funnel

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a device shaped like a hollow cone with a tube extending from the point

: something that is shaped like a funnel

: a large pipe on a ship through which smoke or steam comes out

funnel

verb

English Language Learners Definition of funnel (Entry 2 of 2)

: to pass through a funnel or a narrow opening

: to send (something, such as money) to someone or something in usually an indirect or secret way

See the full definition for funnel in the English Language Learners Dictionary

funnel

noun

fun·nel | \ ˈfə-nᵊl

Kids Definition of funnel

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

2 : a large pipe for the escape of smoke or for ventilation (as on a ship)

funnel

noun

fun·nel | \ ˈfən-ᵊl

Medical Definition of funnel

: 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