through
preposition
\ 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 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 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 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
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 expanse flew through the air
c
—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 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 exhaustion got through the bookwent through the money in a year
b
—used as a function word to indicate acceptance or approval especially by an official body got 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
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms & Antonyms for through
Synonyms: Preposition
Synonyms: Adverb
Synonyms: Adjective
Antonyms: Adjective
Visit the Thesaurus for More
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Preposition
In Rwanda, about 75 percent of blood delivered outside of the capital of Kigali is done through Zipline.
—
Jacob Muñoz, Smithsonian Magazine, "Drones Are Delivering Covid-19 Vaccines to Underserved Communities," 7 Apr. 2021
Kole Ramage is throwing a lot of pitches — 38 through two innings.
—
Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, "LIVE UPDATES: Arkansas vs. UALR Game 1," 7 Apr. 2021
This is what officials know now: There will be additional entrances and exits, so 2,400 audience members won’t have to stream through just one door.
—
Mary Carole Mccauley, baltimoresun.com, "BSO announces new season of in-person performances, begins search for Marin Alsop’s successor," 6 Apr. 2021
The city pays the bond debt through property taxes.
—
Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, "The Anchorage election is Tuesday. Here’s how to vote - and what happens next.," 6 Apr. 2021
Cover the pan loosely with foil and cook, without disturbing, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the rice forms a crust on the bottom of the pan and the shrimp and peas are heated through.
—
BostonGlobe.com, "Recipe: An easy oven paella with shrimp and artichokes makes a weeknight feast," 6 Apr. 2021
Scroll through all of Tuesday’s best bargains below.
—
Maren Estrada, BGR, "Today’s top deals: $2 mini smart plugs, $40 camera drone, Instant Pot accessories, $26 portable speaker, MacBook deals, more," 6 Apr. 2021
Scientists and medical professionals began testing the blood of volunteers in the U.K. trial in March, and it is expected to continue through April.
—
Alicia Lansom, refinery29.com, "Here’s What Happens If You End Up Getting Two Different Vaccines," 6 Apr. 2021
Elsewhere, the garage to the fore of the engine room can accommodate a 20-foot tender that is launched through a side-opening shell door.
—
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, "Meet Falcon Legacy, a 131-Foot Superyacht Shaped Like a Giant Torpedo," 5 Apr. 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb
But ultimately the technology failed, allowing many similar posts to slip through.
—
Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, "Can A.I. help Facebook cure its disinformation problem?," 6 Apr. 2021
About halfway through, when a traditional coaster would be starting to peter out, VelociCoaster kicks in with its 70 mph launch and ascension of the top hat tower.
—
Arthur Levine, USA TODAY, "'Ultimate thrill coaster': Universal Orlando will release the dinosaurs in its Jurassic World VelociCoaster," 6 Apr. 2021
That could indicate that the wall behind the tub is open, with nothing to stop cold air from blowing through.
—
Washington Post, "What to do about a cold bathroom that chills the whole house?," 5 Apr. 2021
In fact, the fencing was right there when the car drove through.
—
ABC News, "'This Week' Transcript 4-4-21: Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré (Ret.), Sen. Roy Blunt, Sec. Pete Buttigieg," 4 Apr. 2021
Their discussion centered on just how much radical change a president could jam through in a short time frame.
—
John Fund, National Review, "Biden Aims to Outshine Obama as a Progressive Reformer," 4 Apr. 2021
The Maribis dispensary in Chicago attracts travelers from nearby Midway Airport, Linn noted, while the two stores in the Springfield area get tourists and travelers passing through.
—
Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Recreational marijuana sales in Illinois smash record in March — $109 million," 3 Apr. 2021
Here’s hoping Ainge is not through yet and can come up with backboard-inhaling Andre Drummond when his buyout is finalized.
—
BostonGlobe.com, "Why Thursday wasn’t so great for the Celtics, and other thoughts," 26 Mar. 2021
And then also the journey of the world around me, and what my friends were going through.
—
Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, "With Kid90, Soleil Moon Frye Takes Us Into The Private World Of Hollywood Child Stars," 18 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The result was a click-through rate, which indicates how often ad exposures lead to clicks, around 9% higher than previous campaigns that relied on common but now endangered targeting methods, such as using data from third-party sources.
—
Alexandra Bruell, WSJ, "Google’s Ad Changes Prompt Big Brands to Revamp Data Strategies," 1 Apr. 2021
There is a through line here of steely feminine will, the haute-couture necessary battle gear when fighting to create one’s ideal self.
—
Kyle Smith, National Review, "The Incomparable Audrey Hepburn," 26 Mar. 2021
Denim, too, seems to be a through line in each of his Mugler collections, with each season offering high-fashion takes on the all-American classic.
—
Todd Kingston Plummer, Harper's BAZAAR, "Casey Cadwallader of Mugler Has the Coolest Side Hustle," 4 Mar. 2021
Brave says their advertisers are seeing, on average, a 9% click-through rate for their campaigns, compared to the 2% industry average.
—
Nina Bambysheva, Forbes, "Brave Battles Google Amid Growing Demand For Privacy," 4 Mar. 2021
To be truly sustainable, businesses need to go about this work in a through manner leaving no stone unturned.
—
Roger Trapp, Forbes, "Time For Leaders To Stand Up On Making Business Truly Sustainable," 26 Feb. 2021
Glaude said that in Baldwin’s nearly 7,000 pages of writing the demand for honesty is the through line.
—
USA Today, "In modern times of protest, James Baldwin’s meditations on America and race still resonate," 23 Feb. 2021
Is there a through line from that to Jason Bourne to Johanna in News of the World?
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, "With News of the World, Paul Greengrass Went for Optimism," 3 Feb. 2021
For nearly 20 years, Joe DeCicco has worked at the drive-through window of a Taco Bell in South Daytona, Florida.
—
Alaa Elassar, CNN, "A 70-year-old employee known as 'Taco Bell Joe' received a $6,000 tip from his community," 27 Dec. 2020
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.
Keep scrolling for more
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
Last Updated
8 Apr 2021
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through. Accessed 18 Apr. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for through
through
preposition
English 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
adverb
English 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
adjective
English 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
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on through
What made you want to look up through? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
The Exceptions Quiz III
-
- Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Anagram puzzles meet word search.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share through
Time Traveler for through
The first known use of through was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century