throat

1 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: the part of the neck in front of the spinal column
(2)
: the passage through the neck to the stomach and lungs
b(1)
: voice
(2)
: the seat of the voice
2
: something resembling the throat especially in being an entrance, a passageway, a constriction, or a narrowed part: such as
a
: the orifice of a tubular organ especially of a plant
b
: the opening in the vamp of a shoe at the instep
c
: the part of a tennis racket that connects the head with the shaft
3
: the curved part of an anchor's arm where it joins the shank see anchor illustration

see also at each other's throats

throat

2 of 2

verb

throated; throating; throats

transitive verb

1
: to utter in the throat : mutter
2
: to sing or enunciate in a throaty voice

Examples of throat in a Sentence

Noun My throat was dry so I took a sip of water. He held a knife to her throat. His shirt was open at the throat. He grabbed her by the throat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
What makes this finding unusual is that no other fossil animal has ever been discovered with stones in its throat. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Dec. 2025 Walls tackled Alger, slashed his throat, and then shot him in the head three times - killing him. CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Verb
In 2016, Dion lost her husband René Angélil to throat cancer at 73. Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025 Anyone infected is at risk of experiencing dehydration, dry mouth and throat and feeling dizzy. Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for throat

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English throte, from Old English; akin to Old High German drozza throat

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of throat was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Throat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throat. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

throat

noun
ˈthrōt
1
: the part of the neck in front of the spinal column
also : the passage through the neck to the stomach and lungs
2
: something (as an end part) that resembles the throat
throated
-əd
adjective

Medical Definition

throat

noun
1
: the part of the neck in front of the spinal column
2
: the passage through the throat to the stomach and lungs containing the pharynx and upper part of the esophagus, the larynx, and the trachea

More from Merriam-Webster on throat

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