throat

noun

\ˈthrōt

Definition of throat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(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

at each other's throats

: in open and aggressive conflict

throat

verb

throated; throating; throats

Definition of throat (Entry 2 of 2)

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: Noun

Emerita Mapp slit the throats of Andrew Bickford and Zackery Ganoe at the Days Inn on April 11, 2017. — Marco Santana, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Murder case that saw Aramis Ayala, Rick Scott clash central to insurance suit," 6 July 2018 Just to name a couple of proposals Rahm's trying to stuff down our throats, no questions asked. — Ben Joravsky, Chicago Reader, "News / Politics Rahm makes a joke out of Quinn's term-limit push, but voters could have last laugh," 3 July 2018 The mouse rips the throat of the lion and the dead return. — Annika Neklason, The Atlantic, "What Donald Hall Understood About Death," 26 June 2018 One report by Amnesty International in 2015 detailed gruesome ceremonial killings that involved forcing detainees to dig their own graves and slitting their throats without trial. — Alexander Smith /, NBC News, "What is Boko Haram, the militant group terrorizing Nigeria?," 19 June 2018 The threats come via various media and have included references to slitting the throats of his children. — James Freeman, WSJ, "FCC Chairman Still Receiving Threats Over ‘Net Neutrality’," 11 June 2018 It's been 10 years since Arias, now 37, killed her sometime-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, 30, by shooting him in the head, stabbing him 27 times and slitting his throat in the bathroom of his Mesa home. — Michael Kiefer, azcentral, "Jodi Arias continues her quest for secrecy with murder conviction appeal," 18 May 2018 The trial started today for a man accused of fatally stabbing his longtime girlfriend and slitting her throat in her Roebuck Springs home in 2016. — Ivana Hrynkiw, AL.com, "Man on trial for stabbing, slitting throat of ex-girlfriend in east Birmingham home," 1 May 2018 The Eagles didn’t shove Mill down the throats of fans. — Christine M. Flowers, Philly.com, "Glorifying Meek Mill is not a good look for the Sixers | Christine Flowers," 25 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

By the time the final horn sounded and the Penguins’ 2-1 series lead was official and Crosby’s name was announced as the game’s first star, there were barely enough fans left for a weak-throated boo. — Mike Sielski, Philly.com, "Sidney Crosby once again leaves the Flyers and their fans all wet | Mike Sielski," 16 Apr. 2018 Outside analysts say the 51-year-old state senator faces a difficult choice about how full-throated a campaign to wage against the popular, 84-year-old incumbent. — Sarah D. Wire, latimes.com, "De León's challenge in the Senate race: to oppose Feinstein but keep his future intact," 15 June 2018 The dawn chorus was productive, though, providing grasshopper sparrow, scarlet tanager, summer tanager and yellow-throated vireo, to name a few. — Taylor Piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Goal for a Big Day: Count as many bird species as you can find | Charlotte Observer," 14 May 2018 The result is a crowded stage—the choreography resembles a packed aerobics class—and the biggest, richest, most full-throated sound the show's likely ever had. — Deanna Isaacs, Chicago Reader, "Lyric’s Jesus Christ is, indeed, a superstar," 1 May 2018 Ryan Hartman to Nashville, Michal Kempny to Washington, Tommy Wingels to Boston—though not as full-throated as the Rangers. — Alex Prewitt, SI.com, "Original Six Outsiders: Trying to Make Sense of Meaningless March Hockey," 27 Mar. 2018 What’s most memorable about the novel, however, is the unadulterated, feminist voice, rarely found so full-throated in mainstream novels. — Anita Felicelli, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Girls Burn Brighter,’ by Shobha Rao," 21 Mar. 2018 Not against Houston — the Cougars still ran the ball down the Owls’ throats a number of times, finding driving lanes too easily. — Mike Jensen, Philly.com, "Big Ivy League game coming up for Penn, just not must-win | City Six Observations," 20 Feb. 2018 An audience of 900 Brits sang along, full throated and word perfect. — John Lithgow, New York Times, "John Lithgow, on Barnstorming His Way to Broadway," 9 Jan. 2018

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