through
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\ ˈthrü 
\
\Definition of through
(Entry 1 of 3)
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 ofdrove 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 anothera highway through the foresta road through the desert
(4) : 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 processthe 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
b : because of
failed through ignorance
c : by common descent from or relationship with
related through their grandfather
3a : over the whole surface or extent of : throughout homes scattered through the valley
b —used as a function word to indicate movement within a large expanseflew through the air
c —used as a function word to indicate exposure to a specified set of conditionsput him 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
b : from the beginning to the end of
the tower stood through the earthquake
c : to and including
Monday through Friday
5a —used as a function word to indicate completion or exhaustiongot through the bookwent through the money in a year
b —used as a function word to indicate acceptance or approval especially by an official bodygot the bill through the legislature
through
adverb\ ˈthrü \
\Definition of through (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : from one end or side to the other
2a : from beginning to end
b : to completion, conclusion, or accomplishment see it through
3 : to the core : completely soaked through
4 : into the open : out break through
through
adjective\ ˈthrü \
\Definition of through (Entry 3 of 3)
b : extending from one surface to another
a through mortise
3a : initiated at and destined for points outside a local zone
through traffic
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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for through
Synonyms: Preposition
Synonyms: Adverb
Synonyms: Adjective
Antonyms: Adjective
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb Carolyn Said on new hoops that H-1B hopefuls and other work visa applicants will now have to jump through.
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Owen Thomas, SFChronicle.com, "What billionaires like Jeff Bezos give matters. What they do matters too," 19 Feb. 2020 Bake for about 20 minutes, rotating the pan in the oven (front to back) halfway through, until nicely browned (that caramelization is an important flavor layer).
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Tina Danze, Dallas News, "Magic meatballs: Dallas chefs share recipes for their Italian and Afghan specialties," 17 Feb. 2020 Reform advocates have hailed reforms Foxx pushed through — often over the angry objections of Chicago’s police union and chiefs of police across Cook County — including treating certain nonviolent crimes, like shoplifting, as lower priorities.
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USA TODAY, "New Jussie Smollett case could complicate reelection of top Chicago prosecutor Kim Foxx," 15 Feb. 2020 Adjust Your Straps Place the single-loop end around the first tree, then insert the long end of the strap through and pull tight.
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Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, "Here's How to Hang a Hammock in Your Backyard," 29 Jan. 2020 The light fabric is easy to breathe through but will stop any dirt or dust from getting into your mouth and lungs.
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Harry Guinness, Popular Science, "A buff is indispensable, and you absolutely need one," 18 Jan. 2020 Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are flat and edges are dark golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes.
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Chris Ross, Twin Cities, "Martha Stewart Living’s ‘Cookie Perfection’ timed for holiday baking," 11 Dec. 2019 Investigators found that the silicon seals wear out over time, exposing hairline-sized openings that meat particles push through over weeks, months and years.
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Ron Hurtibise, sun-sentinel.com, "Penn Dutch-type germs are common in supermarkets, but the state rarely tests for them," 4 Oct. 2019 Confidence: High Tomorrow night: Clouds hold over the area through much of the night and lows fall to the upper 30s to lower 40s.
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David Streit, Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: Mild and dry until late weekend rain showers," 26 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The sensor uses ultrasonic waves to identify where the finger rests on the side of the phone, and the gauge measures force through strain on the surface.
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Julian Chokkattu, Wired, "Get Ready for More Phones With No Buttons," 14 Jan. 2020 The three were in synch again in the 66th when Griezmann launched Messi with a through ball.
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Joseph Wilson, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Griezmann finds groove with Messi, Suárez in Barca victory," 19 Oct. 2019 For the crew, the challenge was to embrace change, while still maintaining a through line from seasons past.
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Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "The Crown's Costume Designer on Dressing Princess Margaret Like Elizabeth Taylor," 20 Nov. 2019 Senior Ishmael Herring scored off of a through ball from Gavin Weyant to give the Gators a 1-0 lead , midway through the first half.
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Baltimore Sun Staff, baltimoresun.com, "Varsity roundup: River Hill, Eastern Tech remain unbeaten in boys soccer," 4 Oct. 2019 Peru finally had a chance from close range, with Jefferson Farfan on the receiving end of a through ball that put him on goal.
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Avi Creditor, SI.com, "WATCH: Poulsen Gives Denmark Win Over Peru After Cueva Skies PK Chance," 16 June 2018 The car then went from the through lane into the left-hand turn lane without its turn signal.
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cleveland, "Sleeping driver at green light admits to ‘possibly’ drinking too much: Middleburg Heights Police Blotter," 11 Dec. 2019 The tower was also given a more through review as part of PG&E’s enhanced equipment inspections in its wildfire-prevention program this year.
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J.d. Morris, SFChronicle.com, "PG&E blackout inspections revealed 218 problems that could have started fires," 29 Nov. 2019 Stash the parcel in a carry-on or check-through bag.
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Los Angeles Times, "Key to better packing? It’s in the bag," 26 Sep. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'through.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Learn More about through
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
How "Thru" Turned Into "Through"
How "Thru" Turned Into "Through"
And Then to "Thru" Again
Dictionary Entries near through
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for through
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Cite this Entry
“Through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through. Accessed 27 Feb. 2020.
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More Definitions for through
through
prepositionEnglish Language Learners Definition of through
(Entry 1 of 3)
: into one side and out the other side of (something)
: from one side or end to another side or end of (something)
—used to describe movement within a place or an area of land, air, etc.
through
adverbEnglish Language Learners Definition of through (Entry 2 of 3)
: from one side or end to the other
: over the whole distance
: from the beginning to the end
through
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of through (Entry 3 of 3)
: having reached the end of an activity, job, etc.
: no longer in a romantic relationship
: no longer able to continue in a role, activity, etc.
See the full definition for through in the English Language Learners Dictionary
through
preposition\ ˈthrü \
\Kids Definition of through
(Entry 1 of 3)
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 sense 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.
9 : into and out of
I'm through the worst of it.
through
adverbKids Definition of through (Entry 2 of 3)
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.
through
adjectiveKids Definition of through (Entry 3 of 3)
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
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Time Traveler for through
The first known use of through was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century