trough

noun

ˈtrȯf How to pronounce trough (audio)
Definition of troughnext
1
as in pipe
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) all of the wiring for the converted residential loft is concealed in a vertical trough

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in ditch
a long narrow channel dug in the earth I slid and fell into the trough by the side of the road, scraping my leg

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in gutter
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof the troughs on the eaves of the house were clogged with leaves

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trough This smear is described mathematically by a wave function which, like a classical wave, has peaks and troughs. — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026 Trotter’s team had prepped the property with water troughs and alfalfa hay, which drew in the animals. — Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026 At the same time, another upper-level trough will move into the West, helping pull monsoon moisture northward into the Southern High Plains next week. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 For water that cannot be emptied, such as horse troughs or ponds, consider adding mosquito dunks containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or Bti. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 12 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trough
  1. pipe
  2. ditch
  3. gutter
  4. conduit
  5. trench
  6. tube
  7. ravine
  8. funnel
Noun
  • The note change is a marker, but the organ, in which air is electronically blown through the pipes day and night for all to hear, has become an endearing sound that connects you to your being.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The piers were 24 meters apart, with an iron pipe between them.
    — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of pipe
Noun
  • Hundreds of British troops crisscrossed fields with thousands of metres of razor wire and dug a long ditch that was later partially filled with water to act as a moat to keep the Protestant marchers away from the Catholic enclave.
    — Amanda Ferguson Reuters, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Much of the stone used to construct Hadrian’s Wall and its forts and milecastles was recycled over the centuries, but the stone footings largely remain, as do the flanking ditches.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of ditch
Noun
  • Having never cleaned my rain gutters since becoming a homeowner five years ago, I was stunned to learn that this annoying task should be completed once, if not twice, a year.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Haddad says that anything from gutters to flashing or even a nearby air conditioner can cause rust on vinyl siding.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of gutter
Noun
  • But let history — and John Cage — remind us that opening our ears can be the conduit to opening our minds.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Lady Kitty Spencer served as the conduit who accepted the award on behalf of the fashion house.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of conduit
Noun
  • But with campaigns romanticizing the British countryside and a new mini exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum honoring one of its greatest hallmarks, the trusty trench, Burberry is fully owning its history.
    — Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The shape appears on leather bombers, trench hybrids and wool coats.
    — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of trench
Noun
  • The married couple who owned the bag told officers their son had suggested concealing the knife inside the toothpaste tube in an attempt to get it through airport security, TSA said.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The original Hyperloop concept envisioned passenger or cargo pods moving at extremely high speeds through low-pressure tubes.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of tube
Noun
  • The National Park and World Biosphere Reserve affords nearly 10 miles to hike amid towering ravine walls, flowing streams, and dense forests.
    — Jennifer Tzeses, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Many more were imperiled by muddy water racing through the narrow ravines, sparking frantic rescue missions for dozens.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ravine
Noun
  • Yesterday morning, at Milan’s Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Max Mara showed a collection of funnel-neck trench coats, unstructured blazers and linen safari jackets in mousy shades of grey and brown for spring 2027.
    — Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
  • With a brilliant hardware funnel and an options market pricing in juicy short-term premiums, Meta looks primed for a powerful breakout into 2027.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of funnel

Phrases Containing trough

Browse Nearby Words

troublous
trough
troughs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trough. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tittle

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All