Definition of 'through'

Word Frequency

through adverbs and prepositions: physical movements and positions

In addition to the uses shown here, through is used in phrasal verbs such as 'follow through,' 'see through,' and 'think through.'pronunciation note: The preposition is pronounced (θru ). In other cases, through is pronounced (θru )

1. preposition

To move through something such as a hole, opening, or pipe means to move directly from one side or end of it to the other.

The theater was evacuated when rain poured through the roof.

Go straight through that door under the EXIT sign.

Synonyms: via, by way of, by, between More Synonyms of through

2. preposition

To cut through something means to cut it in two pieces or to make a hole in it.

Use a genuine fish knife and fork if possible as they are designed to cut through the flesh but not the bones.

3. preposition

To go through a town, area, or country means to travel across it or in it.

Go through North Carolina and into Virginia.

4. preposition

If you move through a group of things or a mass of something, it is on either side of you or all around you.

We made our way through the crowd to the river.

5. preposition

To get through a barrier or obstacle means to get from one side of it to the other.

Allow twenty-five minutes to get through passport control and customs.

6. preposition

If a driver goes through a red light, they keep driving even though they should stop.

He was killed at an intersection by a driver who went through a red light.

7. preposition

If something goes into an object and comes out of the other side, you can say that it passes through the object.

The ends of the net pass through a wooden bar at each end.

8. preposition

To go through a system means to move around it or to pass from one end of it to the other.

...electric currents traveling through copper wires.

9. preposition

If you see, hear, or feel something through a particular thing, that thing is between you and the thing you can see, hear, or feel.

Alice gazed pensively through the wet glass.

10. preposition

If something such as a feeling, attitude, or quality happens through an area, organization, or a person's body, it happens everywhere in it or affects all of it.

An atmosphere of anticipation vibrated through the crowd.

More Synonyms of through

Word Frequency

through adverbs and prepositions, abstract uses: times, experiences, causes

1. preposition

If something happens or exists through a period of time, it happens or exists from the beginning until the end.

She kept quiet all through breakfast.

Synonyms: during, throughout, in the middle of, for the duration of More Synonyms of through

2. preposition

If something happens from a particular period of time through another, it starts at the first period and continues until the end of the second period.

[US]regional note: in BRIT, use to1

...open Monday through Friday from 9 to 5.

Synonyms: to, up to and including More Synonyms of through

3. preposition

If you go through a particular experience or event, you experience it, and if you behave in a particular way through it, you behave in that way while it is happening.

Men go through a change of life emotionally just like women.

4. preposition [n PREP n]

You use through in expressions such as half-way through and all the way through to indicate to what extent an action or task is completed.

A thirty-nine-year-old competitor collapsed half-way through the marathon.

5. preposition

If something happens because of something else, you can say that it happens through it.

I only succeeded through hard work.

Synonyms: because of, by way of, by means of, by virtue of More Synonyms of through

6. preposition

You use through when stating the means by which a particular thing is achieved.

Those who seek to grab power through violence deserve punishment.

7. preposition

If you do something through someone else, they take the necessary action for you.

Do I need to go through my doctor to get an appointment?

8. adverb [ADV after v]

If something such as a proposal or idea goes through, it is accepted by people in authority and is made legal or official.

We're waiting for the building permit to go through.

9. preposition

If someone gets through an examination or a round of a competition, they succeed or win.

She was bright, learned languages quickly, and sailed through her exams.

10. adverb [ADV after v]

When you get through while making a telephone call, the call is connected and you can speak to the person you are phoning.

Telephones are down so he can't get through.

11. preposition

If you look or go through a lot of things, you look at them or deal with them one after the other.

Let's go through the numbers together and see if a workable deal is possible.

12. preposition

If you read through something, you read it from beginning to end.

She read through pages and pages of the music I had brought her.

13. adverb [adj ADV]

If you say that someone or something is wet through, you are emphasizing how wet they are.

[emphasis]

I returned to the inn cold and wet, soaked through by the drizzling rain.

Word Frequency

through adjectives

1. adjective [v-link ADJ]

If you are through with something or if it is through, you have finished doing it.

We're through with dinner.

Are you through with this?

2. adjective [v-link ADJ]

If you are through with someone, you do not want to have anything to do with them again.

I'm through with her; she's bad news!

Video: pronunciation of
through

through in American English

(θru )

preposition

in one side and out the other side of; from end to end of

in the midst of

flying through the clouds

among

hiking through the trees

by way of

a train that goes through Boston

over the entire extent or surface of

to various places in; around

touring through France

from the beginning to the end or conclusion of

to go through an experience, through the summer, went through all his provisions

b. US

up to and including

through Friday

without making a stop for

to go through a red light

past the limitations or difficulties of

to fight through all the red tape

by means of

through her help

10.

as a result of; because of

done through error

adverb

11.

in one side and out the other; from end to end

12.

from the beginning to the end

13.

completely to the end; to a conclusion

to see something through

14.

in every part or way; thoroughly; completely

soaked through

: also through and through

adjective

15.

extending from one place to another; allowing free passage

a through street

16. US

traveling to the destination without stops

a through train

continuing on without making a stop

through traffic

17. US

not necessitating changes; good for traveling without intermediate transfer

a through ticket

18.

arrived at the end; finished

through with an assignment

19.

at the end of one's usefulness, resources, etc.

through in politics

20.

having no further dealings, connections, etc. (with someone or something)

▶ USAGE: Through is also used in idiomatic expressions (e.g., get through), many of which are entered in this dictionary under the key words

Word origin

ME thurgh, thrugh < OE thurh, akin to Ger durch < IE base *ter-, through, beyond > L trans, across, Sans tiráḥ, through

Word Frequency

through in British English

(θruː )

preposition

going in or starting at one side and coming out or stopping at the other side of

a path through the wood

occupying or visiting several points scattered around in (an area)

as a result of; by means of

the thieves were captured through his vigilance

4. mainly US

up to and including

Monday through Friday

during

through the night

at the end of; having (esp successfully) completed

7. through with

adjective

8. (postpositive)

having successfully completed some specified activity

(on a telephone line) connected

10. (postpositive)

no longer able to function successfully in some specified capacity

as a journalist, you're through

11. (prenominal)

(of a route, journey, etc) continuous or unbroken

a through train

adverb

12.

through some specified thing, place, or period of time

13.

thoroughly; completely

Also: (informal or poetic) thro' or (informal or poetic) thro or (chiefly US) thru

Word origin

Old English thurh; related to Old Frisian thruch, Old Saxon thuru, Old High German duruh

Examples of 'through' in a sentence
through

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

We did not want to go through the upheaval of this again.That helped me get through my nursing degree. Bags of incoming mail were received and sorted on the trolleys as they moved through the city.It is a slightly odd game in that both sides are already through.They could also gain respect through public service.You had to fight your way through to the back.Make sure you hop on the miniature steam train which passes through park.We will ask our people to think again about that through a general election or a new referendum.I had been caught going through a traffic light on the change.The reality of moving through gunfire yet again.