through

• thoo (pronunciation spelling)
• thorough (archaic outside of compounds)
• thorow (obsolete)
• thorugh (common)
• thro' (chiefly archaic or poetic)
• throughe (obsolete)
• thru (informal, US)
• thrue (obsolete)

From Middle English thrugh, thruch, thruh, metathetic variants of thurgh, thurh, from Old English þurh, from Proto-Germanic *þurhw (“through”), from Proto-Indo-European *tr̥h₂kʷe, suffixed zero-grade from *terh₂- (“to pass through”) + *-kʷe (“and”). Cognate with Scots throch (“through”), West Frisian troch (“through”), German durch (“through”), Dutch door (“through”), Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌷 (þairh, “through”), Latin trans (“across, over, through”), Albanian tërthor (“through, around”), Welsh tra (“through”). See also thorough.

• enPR: thro͞o
• (Received Pronunciation, Canada) IPA^(key): /θɹuː/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /θɹu/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uː
• Hyphenation: through
• Homophones: threw, thru

through

1. From one side or end of (something) to the other.
   1. So as to enter (something), pass within or across, and then leave.

      I drove through Lausanne on my way from Geneva to Zurich.

      The bullet went right through his leg.

      • 2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):

        A “moving platform” scheme is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. Local trains would use side-by-side rails to roll alongside intercity trains and allow passengers to switch trains by stepping through docking bays.

   2. So as to progress within (something) or towards the end or limit of (something).

      The virus broke out in the capital city and is now spreading quickly through the country.

      I'm working through this box set of 'Downton Abbey'.

   3. From one side of (an opening) to the other.

      Go straight ahead and through that door.

      Look through the window.

   4. To or beyond the other side of (an obstacle); past.

      I hope to start in the autumn, but I've got to get through the interview first.

      The finance bill did not get through Congress.

      We're through the worst part.

      The going will be easier once we're through the bog.

      You can't see through a brick wall!

      • 2013 June 22, “Snakes and ladders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 76:

        Risk is everywhere. For each one there is a frighteningly precise measurement of just how likely it is to jump from the shadows and get you. “The Norm Chronicles” aims to help data-phobes find their way through this blizzard of risks.

   5. (in phrases such as 'go through', 'get through' etc.) Indicating that something has been consumed or used up.

      Have you got through all those chocolates already?!

      The company went through its £100m startup investment in six months.

   6. Along the course of; used in expressions of progress towards the end of something.

      We're halfway through the year.

   7. Throughout the duration of.

      He worked through the night.

      I never want to sit through another meeting like that again.

2. Via or by way of.
   1. By way of (a physical passage).

      The hot water enters through this pipe.

   2. By way of (an intermediary, agent, medium, etc.).

      I met her through a friend of mine.

      This matter was dealt with through our London office.

      I received this anonymous letter through the post.

      • 2013 May 25, “No hiding place”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8837, page 74:

        Inf America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result. If the bumf arrived electronically, the take-up rate was 0.1%. And for online adverts the “conversion” into sales was a minuscule 0.01%.

3. Throughout or across the extent of.

   There are errors all through this report.

   Work the eggs and sugar through the mixture.

4. Amidst or surrounded by (while moving).

   We slogged through the mud for hours before turning back and giving up.

   The arrow flew through the air.

   I spent all day wading through paperwork.

   • 1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate , New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, , →OCLC, page 16:

     Athelstan Arundel walked home all the way, foaming and raging. He walked the whole way, walking through crowds, and under the noses of dray-horses, carriage-horses, and cart-horses, without taking the least notice of them.

   • 1913, Joseph C Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

     I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn.

   • 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider ”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A Munsey Company, , published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 1:

     Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.

5. (Canada, US) To (or up to) and including, with all intermediate values; to... inclusive; until the end of.

   from 1945 through 1991;  the numbers 1 through 9;  your membership is active through March 15, 2013

   • 2019 February 3, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America‎, archived from the original on 7 February 2019:

     It includes patent requests in machine learning through 2016, the last year for which details are available.

6. By means of.

   This team believes in winning through intimidation.

   He's got to where he is today through sheer hard work and determination.

   • 2011 September 28, Tom Rostance, “Arsenal 2-1 Olympiakos”, in BBC Sport‎:

     But the home side were ahead in the eighth minute through 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain.

   • 2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:

     Since the launch early last year of  two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.

7. In consequence of; as a result of.

   The project failed through lack of investment.

   • 2012, Dimitri Yanuli, You Might Be Right, but You Ain't Right with the Word of God:

     Our minds and hearts are corrupted with the Adamic virus at birth, and through a lifetime of sin and tragedy, our hearts and thoughts get more evil and more corrupted as we experience life's tragedies.

through (not comparable)

1. Passing from one side of something to the other.

   Interstate highways form a nationwide system of through roads.

   • 1994, Don A. Halperin, G. Thomas Bible, Principles of Timber Design for Architects and Builders, page 137:

     It is possible to use a through bolt so that the bolt will be loaded axially, but usually axial loads are only components of the total load on the bolt.

2. (chiefly US) Finished; complete.

   They were through with laying the subroof by noon.

3. Along the course of a task etc.; used in expressions of progress towards the end.

   It's a big job but we're halfway through.

4. Without a future; done for.

   After being implicated in the scandal, he was through as an executive in financial services.

   • 2004, Intelligent Systems, translated by Nintendo of America, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo, GameCube, level/area: Shhwonk Fortress:

     You chumps are tougher than you look. But I'm not through yet! Everyone! GET 'EM!!!

5. No longer interested; wearied or turned off by experience.

   She was through with him.

   • 1908, W B M Ferguson, chapter I, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

     “I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”.

   • 1981 September 16, Devo, “Through Being Cool”, in New Traditionalists:

     We’re through being cool.
     We’re through being cool.
     Eliminate the ninnies and the twits.

   • 1977, Iggy Pop, Lust For Life:

     I'm worth a million in prizes / Yeah, I'm through with sleeping on the sidewalk / No more beating my brains / No more beating my brains / With the liquor and drugs / With the liquor and drugs

6. Proceeding from origin to destination without the need to change transport vehicle.

   The through flight through Memphis was the fastest.

   When is the next through train to London?

   • 1940 November, “Notes and News: The First Corridor Train”, in Railway Magazine, page 618:

     Also the 10.45 a.m. from Paddington by the same route is called "Through Train via Severn Tunnel," but in later years, when made up of corridor stock, it is called "Through Corridor Express via Severn Tunnel." The frequent use of "through" on the South Wales section of G.W.R. began when the Severn Tunnel route was used for through trains between Paddington and South Wales in the summer of 1887 in order to draw continual attention to the improved facilities.

7. (soccer) In possession of the ball beyond the last line of defence but not necessarily the goalkeeper; through on goal.
   • 2015, Steve Grossi, SWFL1: Missed Chances See Swifts Relinquish Top Spot‎:

     With the Swifts calling for offside the striker was through and only a great save from McIlravey prevented the opener.

8. (chiefly UK, Commonwealth, Ireland, rare in Canada) (usually followed by "to") Able to progress (to the next stage or a higher level) following success in an exam, sports match, etc.

   Manchester United are through to the FA Cup Final for the thirteenth time.

through (not comparable)

1. From one side of something to the other.
   1. By way of the interior.

      The arrow went straight through.

      I didn't like the look of the place, so I drove through without stopping.

   2. By way of an opening.

      I opened the window and climbed through.

   3. So as to overcome an obstacle and pass beyond it; past.

      The road is blocked by an overturned truck, and cars can't get through.

      The American army broke through at Saint-Lô.

2. So as to pass a stage in a process and proceed to the next stage or level.

   The bill will be tabled tomorrow, but I doubt that it will be voted through.

   She progressed through to the final round of the competition.

3. From beginning to end, or from the present position to the end.

   Others went to bed for the night; he worked straight through.

   She read the letter through.

   The baby cried the whole night through.

   He said he would see it through.

4. Throughout something; all the way across or into.

   Leave the yarn in the dye overnight so the color soaks through.

5. (mostly in the phrase 'get through') So as to connect or reach.

   I've been ringing my bank all day, and finally I've got through.

   Can you put me through to the manager?

For adverb-derived terms, see intransitive uses of preposition-derived terms above (get through, go through etc.).

• Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "Bounded landmarks", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition, Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8

From Middle English thrugh, þrouȝ, throgh, from Old English þrūh (“trough, conduit, pipe; box, chest; coffin, tomb”), from Proto-Germanic *þrūhs (“excavated trunk, trough”), from Proto-Indo-European *terh₃u- (“to rub, turn, drill, bore”).

• IPA^(key): /θɹʌf/, /θɹuː/
• Rhymes: -ʌf, -uː
• Hyphenation: through

through (plural throughs)

1. (obsolete) A coffin, sarcophagus or tomb of stone; a large slab of stone laid on a tomb, or in a dry-stone wall from one side to the other; a perpend.