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
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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: Preposition
The grass was wet with dew, and the sunlight was already sneaking through the white pines, the type of morning my mother would’ve loved.
—
BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2021
Clanton, the 17-year-old from Miami Lakes, Florida, tore through the match-play bracket mid-week and downed three top players to score a semifinal pairing opposite Cohen Trolio, himself a semifinalist from the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst in 2019.
—
Julie Williams, The Arizona Republic, 24 July 2021
Virtual events and online tours will be available Sept. 25 through Oct 3.
—
Sarah Hauer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 24 July 2021
The trade is part of Adams’ bid to rebuild through youth after Buffalo finished last in the overall standings for a fourth time in eight seasons and extended its playoff drought to an NHL record-matching 10th year.
—
John Wawrow, Detroit Free Press, 24 July 2021
The 14-year-old woke up, got dressed, packed her school bag and set out at about 6:30 a.m. for a walk to her Las Vegas high school, taking her usual shortcut through an empty sandlot.
—
Washington Post, 24 July 2021
After the Reds fought back to tie the game, Brad Brach mowed through the top of the Cardinals lineup in eight pitches.
—
Bobby Nightengale, The Enquirer, 24 July 2021
Meanwhile, Sam Randazzo, who was the powerful chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, was targeted by a campaign tying him to FirstEnergy through his previous work as a lobbyist and attorney.
—
Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 22 July 2021
This story is part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s ongoing commitment to identify solutions to Utah’s biggest challenges through the work of the Innovation Lab.
—
Luke Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 July 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb
Lacking the legislative majorities required to push through much of its agenda, the Biden White House is turning to regulators for help.
—
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 23 July 2021
Israel and Jordan reportedly reached an agreement to replace the bridge in 2011, but that deal fell through.
—
Ilan Ben Zion, ajc, 22 July 2021
Some people are still trying to get out and some people are still trying to push through.
—
Miguel Perez, Dallas News, 14 July 2021
Following through on the threat to waive patents would make fulfilling these commitments in a timely manner unlikely, eliminating the economic incentives to distribute the shots.
—
Tomas J. Philipson And Joel Zinberg, WSJ, 14 July 2021
The 6-foot-6 Manning relied more on his secondary pitches, throwing them 48% of the time before his outing was through.
—
Dana Gauruder, Detroit Free Press, 10 July 2021
Her mother, Christine Brinker, told the outlet that Victory had actually been invited to the AGT stage last season, but their plans fell through.
—
Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, 8 July 2021
The years of low rainfall were similar to what California went through in the mid 1970s, Null said.
—
Steve Rubenstein, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 July 2021
After the game, Beverley, who knows what the Clippers have been through, was emotional.
—
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
But female protagonists had a lock on the limited or anthology series race, a notably somber category that had trauma as a through line among the nominees.
—
Washington Post, 13 July 2021
And, while real life plays out a bit differently for Jaramillo and Carrasquillo, the through line of their story is the same.
—
Nicole Gull Mcelroy, Fortune, 4 July 2021
Yeah, there has to be a through line to start with.
—
Steve Baltin, Forbes, 6 June 2021
Four minutes later, Blue Devils sophomore defender Emma Paraskos sent a through pass toward the penalty box.
—
Nick Frazier, chicagotribune.com, 5 June 2021
Michael Barrios halved the lead for Colorado (3-2-1) on a breakaway five minutes into the second half, splitting two defenders to dash into the penalty area and tap home a through ball from Diego Rubio.
—
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2021
Cowell, who is from Ceres (Stanislaus County) and trained at a youth academy in Pleasanton, split the Dallas back line with a through ball from just across midfield that led Cristian Espinoza into an open space to directly challenge the goalkeeper.
—
San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Apr. 2021
With less than a minute in the first half, Somers laced a through ball from 40 yards out to Dhamo, who tucked the ball into the left corner for a 1-0 lead.
—
BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2021
The particular power of performance functions as a through line in Rich’s life.
—
Lynn Steger Strong, The New Republic, 13 May 2021
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
Statistics for through
Last Updated
25 Jul 2021
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through. Accessed 30 Jul. 2021.
Style: MLA
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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
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Time Traveler for through
The first known use of through was before the 12th century
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