tunnel

1 of 2

noun

tun·​nel ˈtə-nᵊl 

1

a

: a covered passageway

specifically : a horizontal passageway through or under an obstruction

b

: a subterranean gallery (as in a mine)

c

: burrow

2

: a hollow conduit or recess : tube, well

tunnellike

ˈtə-nᵊl-ˌ(l)īk 

adjective

tunnel

2 of 2

verb

tunneled or tunnelled; tunneling or tunnelling

ˈtən-liŋ, 

ˈtə-nᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to make or use a tunnel

2

physics : to pass through a potential barrier

electrons tunneling through an insulator between semiconductors

transitive verb

: to make a tunnel or similar opening through or under

also : to make (one's way) by or as if by making a tunnel

tunneler

ˈtən-lər, 

ˈtə-nᵊl-ər 

noun

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

Noun

Enbridge has proposed changes to Line 5, including the construction of a tunnel that would replace part of the pipeline. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Buckeyes staff and players were walking off the Coliseum field in the tunnel, and Riley tried to walk to the same area with his family and security guard. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Verb

However, quantum mechanics allows electrons to move between bands through a process known as tunneling. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026

The insects tunnel their way into the trunk, impeding the tree’s water and nutrient supply and killing it within a year. — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tonel cask, tun, from Anglo-French, from tone tun

First Known Use

Noun

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1795, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing tunnel

• a light at the end of the tunnel
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• high tunnel
• tunnel vision
• wind tunnel

Rhymes for tunnel

• bunnell
• funnel
• fentanyl
• multifunctional

Kids Definition

tunnel

1 of 2 noun

tun·​nel ˈtən-ᵊl 

: a passage under the ground

tunnellike

-ᵊl-ˌ(l)īk 

adjective

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