First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1through
preposition \ˈthrü\
: into one side and out the other side of (something)
: from one side or end to another side or end of (something)
—used to describe movement within a place or an area of land, air, etc.
Full Definition of THROUGH
1
a (1) —used as a function word to indicate movement into at one side or point and out at another and especially the opposite side of <drove a nail through the board> (2) : by way of <left through the door> (3) —used as a function word to indicate passage from one end or boundary to another <a highway through the forest> <a road through the desert> (4) : without stopping for : past <drove through a red light> b —used as a function word to indicate passage into and out of a treatment, handling, or process <the matter has already passed through her hands>
2
—used as a function word to indicate means, agency, or intermediacy: as a : by means of : by the agency of b : because of <failed through ignorance> c : by common descent from or relationship with <related through their grandfather>
3
a : over the whole surface or extent of : throughout <homes scattered through the valley> b —used as a function word to indicate movement within a large expanse <flew through the air> c —used as a function word to indicate exposure to a specified set of conditions <put him through hell>
4
—used as a function word to indicate a period of time: as a : during the entire period of <all through her life> b : from the beginning to the end of <the tower stood through the earthquake> c : to and including <Monday through Friday>
5
a —used as a function word to indicate completion or exhaustion <got through the book> <went through the money in a year> b —used as a function word to indicate acceptance or approval especially by an official body <got the bill through the legislature>
See through defined for English-language learners
See through defined for kids
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Origin of THROUGH
Middle English thurh, thruh, through, from Old English thurh; akin to Old High German durh through, Latin trans across, beyond, Sanskrit tarati he crosses over
Rhymes with THROUGH
blue, boo, brew, chew, clew, clue, coo, coup, crew, cue, dew, do, doux, due, ewe, few, flu, flue, fou, glue, gnu, goo, hew, hue, Jew, Koo, lieu, loo, mew, moo, moue, mu, new, nu, ooh, pew, phew, pooh, q, queue, roux, rue, screw, shoe, shoo, shrew, Sioux, skew, slew, slough, slue, smew, sou, sous, spew, sprue, stew, strew, sue, Sue, thew, to, too, true, two, u, view, whew, who, woo, xu, yew, you, zoo
2through
adverb \ˈthrü\
: from one side or end to the other
: over the whole distance
: from the beginning to the end
Full Definition of THROUGH
1
: from one end or side to the other
2
a : from beginning to end b : to completion, conclusion, or accomplishment <see it through>
3
: to the core : completely <soaked through>
4
: into the open : out <break through>
See through defined for English-language learners
Origin of THROUGH
(see 1through)
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to THROUGH
- Synonyms
- around, over, round, throughout
3through
adjective \ˈthrü\
: having reached the end of an activity, job, etc.
: no longer in a romantic relationship
: no longer able to continue in a role, activity, etc.
Full Definition of THROUGH
1
2
a (1) : going from point of origin to destination without change or reshipment <a through train> (2) : of or relating to such movement <a through ticket> b : initiated at and destined for points outside a local zone <through traffic>
See through defined for English-language learners
Examples of THROUGH
- When the police were through with him, a taxi took him, his suitcase, the homburg funeral hat, in the other direction … —Annie Proulx, Atlantic, November 1997
- I tell him I like fanzines. This one's mad, he says, really mad. I can borrow it when he's through. —Lynne Tillman, Motion Sickness, 1991
- Today though, once experience shows on a woman's face, she's through. —Patricia Volk, New Woman, November 1990
- [+]more
Origin of THROUGH
(see 1through)
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to THROUGH
- Synonyms
- completed, concluded, done, down, ended, finished, over, over with, terminated, complete, up
- Antonyms
- continuing, incomplete, ongoing, uncompleted, undone, unfinished
THROUGH Defined for Kids
1through
preposition \ˈthrü\
Definition of THROUGH for Kids
1
: into at one side and out at the other side of <He drove a nail through the wood.>
2
: from one side or end to another of <We rode through town.>
3
: by way of <I got in through the window.>
4
: among 1 <There's a path through the trees.>
5
: by means of <She succeeded through hard work.>
6
: over the whole of <The rumor swept through school.>
7
: during the whole of <The baby slept through the night.>
8
: to and including <We're open Monday through Friday.>
9
: into and out of <I'm through the worst of it.>
2through
adverb
Definition of THROUGH for Kids
1
: from one end or side to the other <The nail went through.>
2
: from beginning to end <He read the book through in one evening.>
3
: to completion <I plan to see the job through.>
4
: in or to every part <Heat the sauce through.>
3through
adjective
Definition of THROUGH for Kids
1
: having reached an end <We're through with the job.>
2
: allowing free or continuous passage : direct <a through road>
3
: going from point of origin to destination without changes or transfers <through trains>
4
: coming from and going to points outside a local zone <through traffic>
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