1
a(1)
—used as a function word to indicate movement into something at one side or point and out at another and especially the opposite side of
drove a nail through the board
pushing a needle through the fabric
moving through the crowd
(2)
: by way of
People usually come in through the side door.
The bathroom is through that hallway on the left.
Cold air was getting in through a crack in the wall.
(3)
—used as a function word to indicate the transmission of light or vision by some opening or medium
looking through binoculars
light coming through the window
saw a figure through the fog
(4)
—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
(5)
: without stopping for : past
drove through a red light
b
—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 as
a
: by means of : by the agency of
The leaders communicated through interpreters.
He learned to cook through watching his mother.
b
: because of
failed through ignorance
knowledge gained through experience
The company's profits increased through improved sales.
c
: by common descent from or relationship with
related through their grandfather
3
a
: over the whole surface or extent of : throughout
homes scattered through the valley
The students were given the time to go through their notes before the exam.
b
—used as a function word to indicate movement within a place or area of land, air, etc.
flew through the air
They spent a couple of hours walking through the mall. [=walking in various areas of the mall]
We rode our mountain bikes through the woods.
The snake slithered through the grass.
c
—used as a function word to indicate exposure to a specified set of conditions
put me through hell
4
—used as a function word to indicate a period of time: such as
a
: during the entire period of
all through her life
Many students work through the summer.
b
: from the beginning to the end of
slept through the movie
The tower stood through the earthquake.
c
: to and including
Monday through Friday
Read chapters 2 through 5 for homework.
5
a
—used as a function word to indicate completion or exhaustion (as of a supply) or attainment (as of a desired outcome)
They go through money like water.
finally got through the backlog
We're through the worst part of the storm.
They made it through basic training.
He came through the surgery and is doing well.
b
—used as a function word to indicate acceptance or approval especially by an official body
got the bill through the legislature
1
: from one end or side to the other
The nail went completely through.
Let these people go through, please.
2
a
: from beginning to end
Read the essay through and tell me what you think.
b
: to completion, conclusion, or accomplishment
They intended to see the project through.
I need time to think this problem through.
3
: to the core : completely
soaked through
heated the dish through
4
: into the open : out
break through
1
a
: arrived at completion or accomplishment
is through with the job
If you're through using the phone, I'd like to use it next.
She's almost through with law school.
c
: no longer in a romantic relationship
told him they were through
2
3
a
: initiated at and destined for points outside a local zone
The right lane is for through traffic only.
b(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
Synonyms of through
Examples of through in a Sentence
Preposition
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.
Adverb
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.
Adjective
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.
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 13 Nov. 2025
The trick lies in frontal polymerization, a process that turns the flat sheet into a curved form through a self-propagating reaction.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2025
The band barelled through seven tracks with Emily Green raging on guitar, Dominic DiGesu cutting deep bass grooves, Max Bassin setting their percussive pass, and Cameron Winter’s vocals carrying them the whole way through.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Emery jumped up and down when Pau Torres passed into the middle of nowhere and when Bailey’s attempt of a through ball was easily cut out.
—Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for through
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Preposition
In June, a South Korean high court ruled—in a decision that was upheld by a Seoul district court last month—that the group would have to honor their seven-year contract with Ador, which extends through 2029.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 13 Nov. 2025
The trick lies in frontal polymerization, a process that turns the flat sheet into a curved form through a self-propagating reaction.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025
Adverb
Add frozen corn and cook for 2 minutes to heat through.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2025
The band barelled through seven tracks with Emily Green raging on guitar, Dominic DiGesu cutting deep bass grooves, Max Bassin setting their percussive pass, and Cameron Winter’s vocals carrying them the whole way through.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Addressed issues where attempting a lobbed through pass would sometimes result in a through ground pass instead.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Emery jumped up and down when Pau Torres passed into the middle of nowhere and when Bailey’s attempt of a through ball was easily cut out.
—Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for through
Cite this Entry
“Through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
through
1 of 3 preposition1
a
: in at one side and out at the opposite side of
drove through the town
b
: by way of
left through the window
c
: in the midst of : among
a path through the trees
d
: without stopping for
drove through a red light
2
a
: by means of
succeeded through hard work
b
: because of
failed through lack of planning
3
: over the whole of
all through the country
4
a
: from the beginning to the end of : during
worked through the summer
b
: to and including
Monday through Friday
5
a
: to a point of completion or exhaustion in
got through the book
b
: to a state of official acceptance or approval
got the bill through the legislature
through
2 of 3 adverbˈthrü
1
a
: from one end or side to the other
let these people go through, please
b
: over the whole distance
shipped through to Des Moines
2
a
: from beginning to end
read the book through at one sitting
b
: to completion, conclusion, or accomplishment
see the job through
3
: in or to every part : completely
wet through
4
: into the open : out
break through
through
3 of 3 adjectiveˈthrü
1
: allowing free or continuous passage
a through road
2
: going from point of origin to destination without changes or transfers
a through train
3
: coming from and going to points outside a local area
a lane for through traffic only
4
: having reached the end
is through with the job
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