1
a
: a covered passageway
specifically
: a horizontal passageway through or under an obstruction
b
: a subterranean gallery (as in a mine)
c
: burrow
tunneled or tunnelled; tunneling or tunnelling
ˈtən-liŋ,
ˈtə-nᵊl-iŋ
1
: to make or use a tunnel
2
physics
: to pass through a potential barrier
electrons tunneling through an insulator between semiconductors
: to make a tunnel or similar opening through or under
also
: to make (one's way) by or as if by making a tunnel
Examples of tunnel in a Sentence
Noun
The train goes through a tunnel in the mountain.
The moles dug tunnels in the yard.
Verb
Workers are tunneling through the hill.
Insects had tunneled into the tree.
Recent Examples on the Web
Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
There are tunnels to squeeze through, to learn about how soil mitigates climate change, and the opportunity to play with a life-sized model cow’s microbiome.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Stray wood debris or shavings: Carpenter ants can tunnel through wood to make their nests, leaving behind sawdust or wood shavings.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tunnel
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Noun
When Messi walked out of the tunnel holding the hand of a wide-eyed young mascot, the Argentina captain scanned the stadium’s crowded rafters.
—Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
There are tunnels to squeeze through, to learn about how soil mitigates climate change, and the opportunity to play with a life-sized model cow’s microbiome.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
California In cinema-style heist, tunneling thieves steal millions in gold, jewels from downtown L.A.
April 15, 2025
Police allege that the suspect, who Gutierrez believes is homeless, followed a USC graduate student into the music department April 2.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Stray wood debris or shavings: Carpenter ants can tunnel through wood to make their nests, leaving behind sawdust or wood shavings.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tunnel
Cite this Entry
“Tunnel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tunnel. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tunnel
2 of 2 verb
tunneled or tunnelled; tunneling or tunnelling
ˈtən-liŋ,
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to make a tunnel
Medical Definition
tunnel
noun
tun·nel
ˈtən-ᵊl
: a bodily channel see carpal tunnel
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