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Definition through in American English

through adjective, adverb, preposition

adjective, adverb, preposition
/θru/

Through can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): They were riding through a forest.

as an adverb (without a following noun): There’s a hole in the roof where the rain comes through.

as an adjective: a through train

1

into one end of a passage, tube, pipe, etc. and along it toward the other end

1.1

into one end of a passage, tube, pipe, etc. and along it toward the other end

Example

The train runs through a tunnel.

Example

Some pipes were almost blocked, so that hardly any water was trickling through.

1.2

from one side of a window, door, gate, etc. to the other side of it

Example

She was watching him through the kitchen window.

Example

The man at the gate would not let us through.

Example

The men raced the stolen car through an army checkpoint at 100 mph.

Example

You could feel the wind whistling through tiny cracks in the wall.

Synonyms and related words
1.3

making a hole in something, or cutting it into pieces

Example

A workman was drilling through the concrete wall.

Example

The soles of his shoes were nearly worn through in places.

Example

Workers had cut through an electrical cable while they were digging.

1.4

across an area or space, or between a group of things

Example

Maynard spent a year traveling through Europe and Asia.

Example

The path climbs steeply through the trees.

Example

A tiny explosion sent sparks flying through the air.

Synonyms and related words
2

during all of a period of time until the end of it

Example

Only one hotel remained open through the year.

Example

He lay awake all through the night.

Example

They worked the whole day through.

Example

The training program will continue through to mid-April.

Synonyms and related words
Example

skills that we can only learn through experience

Example

Through hard work and determination the team has achieved remarkable success.

Synonyms and related words
3.2

using a particular system, service, or person

Example

Concert tickets are being sold through the Internet.

Example

Woods issued a statement through his agent.

3.3

if you know or hear of something through another person, they told you about it after hearing it from someone else

Example

I heard through a friend of Caroline's that there's been trouble in the family.

Example

women who had lived through the horror and suffering of war

Example

I've been going through hell these last six months, waiting for the trial.

Example

The pain was terrible, but he pulled through when most other men would have died.

Example

We have come through the struggle stronger and more united than we were before.

Example

I'm not sure what time he'll be through with his meeting.

Example

Only one more letter to write. I'm nearly through.

Synonyms and related words
6

used for saying that you are connected to someone by phone

Example

I tried to call the mayor's office, but I couldn't get through.

Example

Can you put me through to Mr. Hearst, please?

Synonyms and related words
7

affecting every part of someone or something

Example

A rumor spread through the camp.

Example

Problems extend through the entire system.

Example

When she heard Bruno's voice, it sent a chill of terror through her.

8

happening because of someone or something

Example

Most accidents occur through human error.

Example

In 1986 Professor Lowe retired through ill health.

Synonyms and related words
9

if you get through an examination or test, you succeed in passing it

Example

I'm no good at languages, so I'd never get through the exam.

Example

He took his driving test for the third time and just managed to scrape through.

Synonyms and related words
10

if a proposal goes through a legislature, it is accepted by it and becomes law

Example

Congress pushed through very large increases in AIDS funding.

Example

An anti-terrorism bill was rushed through parliament.

Synonyms and related words
11

reading or looking at every part of something, from the beginning to the end of it

Example

You'd better read through the instructions carefully.

Example

Christina hastily flicked through her diary.

Example

I've been searching through all the files, but I can't find Hamilton's letter.

12

if a train, bus, etc. goes through to a particular town, it goes as far as that town

12.1

if a train, bus, etc. goes through to a particular town, it goes as far as that town

Example

Does this bus go through to Santa Fe?

Synonyms and related words
Example

In spite of the terrible weather one plane managed to get through.

12.3

as far as a particular stage or level

Example

The course takes students through to university level.

13

used for saying that a large amount of something is used during a period of time

Example

We seem to be going through two or three boxes of tissues a day.

Definition through in American English

Related Words

Words related to through:

a through train (phrase) be through (with someone) (phrase) be through with something (phrase) break through (phrasal verb) breeze through (phrasal verb) bring through (phrasal verb) burn through (verb) button-through (adjective) force of circumstances (phrase) the agency of (phrase) the back door (phrase) carry through (phrasal verb) comb through (phrasal verb) come through (phrasal verb) through (phrase) cut through (phrasal verb) cut-through (noun) drag someone through the courts (phrase) drive-through (adjective) drive-through (noun) fall through (phrasal verb) flick through (phrasal verb) flip through (phrasal verb) follow through (phrasal verb) follow-through (noun) force through (phrasal verb) gallop through (phrasal verb) get through (phrasal verb) get through to (phrasal verb) go through (phrasal verb) go through a red light (phrase) go through the floor (phrase) go through the motions (phrase) go through the roof (phrase) go through with (phrasal verb) go through your paces (phrase) through (phrase) heat through (phrasal verb) jump through hoops (phrase) live through (phrasal verb) look through (phrasal verb) make it through something (phrase) muddle through (phrasal verb) no through street (noun) nod through (verb) page through (phrasal verb) pass through (phrasal verb) patch through (phrasal verb) phone through (phrasal verb) pick through (phrasal verb) plow through (phrasal verb) pull through (phrasal verb) push through (phrasal verb) put through (phrasal verb) puzzle through (phrasal verb) railroad through (phrasal verb) rattle through (phrasal verb) read through (phrasal verb) rifle through (phrasal verb) rip through (phrasal verb) rise the ranks (phrase) rise through the ranks (phrase) romp through (phrasal verb) run through (phrasal verb) run-through (noun) rush through (phrasal verb) sail through (phrasal verb) scrape through (phrasal verb) see through (phrasal verb) see-through (adjective) send shock waves through something (phrase) shine through (phrasal verb) shoot through (phrasal verb) through (phrase) shuffle through (phrasal verb) sift through (phrasal verb) sit through (phrasal verb) sleep through (phrasal verb) slip through the (phrase) slip through your fingers (phrase) through the cracks (phrase) sort through (phrasal verb) swing through (phrasal verb) take through (phrasal verb) talk through (phrasal verb) talk through your hat (phrase) tear through (phrasal verb) think through (phrasal verb) through (adjective, adverb, preposition) through and through (phrase) through someone’s eyes (phrase) through ticket (noun) vote through (phrasal verb) wade through (phrasal verb) walk through (phrasal verb) warm through (phrasal verb) wave through (phrasal verb) whiz through (phrasal verb) work through (phrasal verb) zip through (phrasal verb)