throttle

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

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

see also:

at full throttle

throttler

3 of 3

noun (2)

throt·​tler ˈthrätᵊlə(r) 

plural -s

: one that throttles

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 (1)

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Their retirement plans and pensions are invested in Silicon Valley stocks that could drop; their small businesses are reliant on access to credit that might get throttled. — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

Madonna kicked off the show, throttling through the New York-New Jersey stadium tunnels in a dune buggy, fittingly driven by renowned Brazilian soccer players Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, in a pre-recorded segment. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 July 2026

Noun

Class 2 bikes can also be ridden by people of any age, but are equipped with a throttle and reach a maximum speed of 20 mph. — Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Toyota's Trailhunter package includes Multi-Terrain Select, a feature designed to adjust brake pressure, throttle response and wheelspin to match different road surfaces. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English throtelen, from throte throat

Noun (1)

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 (1)

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
• chrysotile
• 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