Definition of through
1a (1) —used as a function word to indicate movement into at one side or point and out at another and especially the opposite side of drove a nail through the board (2) : by way of left through the door (3) —used as a function word to indicate passage from one end or boundary to another a highway through the forest a road through the desert (4) : without stopping for : past drove through a red lightb —used as a function word to indicate passage into and out of a treatment, handling, or process the matter has already passed through her hands
2 —used as a function word to indicate means, agency, or intermediacy: such asa : by means of : by the agency ofb : because of failed through ignorancec : by common descent from or relationship with related through their grandfather
3a : over the whole surface or extent of : throughout homes scattered through the valleyb —used as a function word to indicate movement within a large expanse flew through the airc —used as a function word to indicate exposure to a specified set of conditions put him through hell
4 —used as a function word to indicate a period of time: such asa : during the entire period of all through her lifeb : from the beginning to the end of the tower stood through the earthquakec : to and including Monday through Friday
5a —used as a function word to indicate completion or exhaustion got through the book went through the money in a yearb —used as a function word to indicate acceptance or approval especially by an official body got the bill through the legislature
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Examples of through in a Sentence
He hit the nail through the wood.
She looked through the binoculars.
The bullet had gone through his hand.
He just walked through the door.
The security guards pushed their way through the crowd.
She could see a figure through the fog.
I looked through the window.
Origin and Etymology of through
Middle English thurh, thruh, through, from Old English thurh; akin to Old High German durh through, Latin trans across, beyond, Sanskrit tarati he crosses over
First Known Use: before 12th century
Definition of through
1 : from one end or side to the other
2a : from beginning to endb : to completion, conclusion, or accomplishment see it through
3 : to the core : completely soaked through
4 : into the open : out break through
Examples of through in a Sentence
Let these people go through, please.
The nail went completely through.
It snowed heavily, but we made it through.
We'll never get through—the mud is too deep.
The package was shipped through to New Orleans.
Read the essay through and tell me what you think.
Origin and Etymology of through
see 1through
First Known Use: before 12th century
Definition of through
1a : arrived at completion or accomplishment is through with the jobb : washed-up, finished
2a : admitting free or continuous passage : direct a through roadb : extending from one surface to another a through mortise
3a : initiated at and destined for points outside a local zone through trafficb (1) : going from point of origin to destination without change or reshipment a through train (2) : of or relating to such movement a through ticket
Examples of through in a Sentence
When the police were through with him, a taxi took him, his suitcase, the homburg funeral hat, in the other direction … —Annie Proulx, Atlantic, November 1997
I tell him I like fanzines. This one's mad, he says, really mad. I can borrow it when he's through. —Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991
Today though, once experience shows on a woman's face, she's through. —Patricia Volk, New Woman, November 1990
I'm not through yet. I have one more topic to discuss.
If you're through using the phone, I'd like to use it next.
Is this a through road?
The left lane is for through traffic only.
Origin and Etymology of through
see 1through
First Known Use: 15th century
THROUGH Defined for English Language Learners
through
playDefinition of through for English Language Learners
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: into one side and out the other side of (something)
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: from one side or end to another side or end of (something)
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—used to describe movement within a place or an area of land, air, etc.
through
playDefinition of through for English Language Learners
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: from one side or end to the other
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: over the whole distance
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: from the beginning to the end
through
playDefinition of through for English Language Learners
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: having reached the end of an activity, job, etc.
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: no longer in a romantic relationship
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: no longer able to continue in a role, activity, etc.
THROUGH Defined for Kids
Definition of through for Students
1 : into at one side and out at the other side of He drove a nail through the wood.
2 : from one side or end to another of We rode through town.
3 : by way of I got in through the window.
4 : among 1 There's a path through the trees.
5 : by means of She succeeded through hard work.
6 : over the whole of The rumor swept through school.
7 : during the whole of The baby slept through the night.
8 : to and including We're open Monday through Friday.
Definition of through for Students
1 : from one end or side to the other The nail went through.
2 : from beginning to end He read the book through in one evening.
3 : to completion I plan to see the job through.
4 : in or to every part Heat the sauce through.
Definition of through for Students
1 : having reached an end We're through with the job.
2 : allowing free or continuous passage : direct a through road
3 : going from point of origin to destination without changes or transfers through trains
4 : coming from and going to points outside a local zone through traffic
Learn More about through
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See words that rhyme with through Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for through Spanish Central: Translation of through Nglish: Translation of through for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of through for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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