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Definition through in British English

through adjective, adverb, preposition

adjective, adverb, preposition
/θruː/

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 towards the other end

1.1

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

Example

The railway 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
about across after
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 travelling through Europe and Asia, giving lectures.

Example

The path climbs steeply through the trees.

Example

A tiny explosion sent sparks flying through the air.

Synonyms and related words
about across after
2

during the whole 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 programme will continue through to mid-April.

Synonyms and related words
during within throughout
3

happening because of someone or something

Example

In 1986 Professor Lowe retired through ill health.

Example

Most accidents occur through human error.

Synonyms and related words
because due to whereas
Example

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

Example

skills that we can only learn through experience

Synonyms and related words
as if bottom-up by dint of something
4.2

using a particular system, service, or person

Example

Concert tickets are being sold through the Internet.

Example

Woods issued a statement through his agent.

4.3

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

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

Example

women who had lived through the horror and suffering of war

Example

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

Example

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

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
finished completed exhausted
7

used for saying that you are connected to someone by phone

Example

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

Example

Can you put me through to Mr Pemberton, please?

Synonyms and related words
answer busy call
8

affecting every part of someone or something

Example

A rumour 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.

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
assessment borderline candidate
10

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

Example

An anti-terrorism bill was rushed through parliament.

Example

Congress pushed through very large increases in AIDS funding.

Synonyms and related words
antitrust appellate civil
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 train go through to Glasgow?

Synonyms and related words
aboard afloat aisle seat
12.2

as far as a particular stage or level

Example

The course takes students through to university degree level.

Example

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

13

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

Example

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

Definition through in British 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) 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) 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 road (noun) nod through (verb) page through (phrasal verb) pass through (phrasal verb) phone through (phrasal verb) pick through (phrasal verb) plough through (phrasal verb) pull through (phrasal verb) push through (phrasal verb) put through (phrasal verb) puzzle through (phrasal verb) railroad through (phrasal verb) rake through (phrasal verb) rattle through (phrasal verb) read through (phrasal verb) rifle through (phrasal verb) ring through (phrasal verb) rip through (phrasal verb) rise from/through 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) 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 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) force of habit (phrase) vote through (phrasal verb) wade through (phrasal verb) walk through (phrasal verb) warm through (phrasal verb) wave through (phrasal verb) through (phrase) whip through (phrasal verb) whizz through (phrasal verb) work through (phrasal verb) zip through (phrasal verb)