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through

through

∞ 1.0
From one end to the other across the whole distance
  • adverb
  • /θruː/
: a través
  • American Express said people are spending through the recession.

Examples

  • Something in my voice made her run into the apartment, straight through to join me by the bed.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Phil and I were merely passing through, painting for the summer.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • You are gonna walk right through.

  • Without even a tiny hole in here for light to come through, all we can do is guess.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • If the rebels break through, they'll be here in days.

  • They broke through in the south corridor.

  • Nat's voice came through, along with the usual static, saying that there was a problem.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Creek water funneled through, creating a cove with its own small waterfall.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The river flows freely through the valley, creating a beautiful landscape.

  • She walked through the tunnel to reach the other side of the mountain.

Synonyms

across
vsthrough
∞ 1.0

From one side of something to the other side

emphasizes movement over the whole distance rather than only ending at the far side
via
vsthrough
659 1.0

By using a particular route, place, or method

describes movement over the whole distance itself, not naming a route or method
thru
vsthrough
  • Informal
3 7.9

From the beginning to the end of something

is the standard formal spelling used in correct writing

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Moving in a circle to surround something

Idioms

34 3.5

Completely in every part

28 5.0

To do something without real effort or interest because it is expected

To have a very hard and painful time in life

All the difficult and important things people go through together

14 3.3

In all situations, both good and bad, people stay loyal and support each other

Looking at something from a certain point of view

To make someone understand or accept something after many tries

6 9.1

Entering a strange, unreal world where usual rules are reversed

5 8.0

Give much more money than normal for something

3 7.4

Do a difficult task because someone in charge asks you to

2 5.7

To rise very quickly to a much higher level

Remove slow official rules to make things happen faster

See something in a new way to understand it better

A very hard task that is almost impossible

1 7.6

To experience a very difficult and stressful time

To fall suddenly to a much lower level

To end something completely so it cannot continue

1 7.2

To experience many hard tests or problems

To act very carefully in a difficult situation to avoid mistakes or offend people

To go through stages more easily as you gain confidence

To notice small important details while keeping the whole situation in mind

through the wazoo
  • Offensive
1 9.9

In very large amounts

To find big holes in a law or plan and use them

Very messy and untidy as if after a rough time

Say something that is not true in a bold, obvious way

A person from Sunderland who strongly shows local pride and ways

To finally understand or accept something difficult

Treat someone or something very harshly and damage them

To say things without knowing the facts or that are not true

To leave a place very quickly

Compounds

14 4.2

A complete rehearsal of a play or presentation without stopping

The act of finishing a task or keeping a promise to do what was planned

7 4.2

An inspection where people go through a place to check for problems

walk-through
  • Jargon
3 5.1

A rehearsal where actors read scripts and practice stage movements

follow-through
  • Specialized
2 4.9

The forward movement after a hit or swing that finishes the action smoothly

1 3.6

A step-by-step guide that shows how to do something

1 3.5

A covered passage through the ground floor of a building

1 4.9

A short route through a neighborhood that saves time by avoiding busy roads

pass-through
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A setting that lets signals or data pass through unchanged to another device

1 3.9

An opening between a kitchen and dining room for passing food

pull-through
  • Specialized
8.4

A cloth on a cord with a weight used to clean a gun barrel

9.0

A shipping document that covers a journey using more than one kind of transport

How Far

through
∞ 1.0
halfway
378 1.3
partway
8 3.7

Surface Forms

through positive

Etymology

Through comes from the Old English thurh, meaning 'from one side to the other', and is related to German durch; picture a road that goes straight 'through' a mountain to the other side. That's why 'through' can mean moving over the whole distance to the end.