pierce

/pɪəs/ (bre, ipa) · [pˈɪrs] /pɪrs/ (ame, ipa) · [pˈɪrs] /ˈpirs/ (ame, mw)

pierce — verb

  • piercepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • pierceshe / she / it
  • piercedpast simple
  • piercing-ing form

1. to push something sharp into something, or all the way through it, so that it ma

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to push something sharp into something, or all the way through it, so that it makes a hole.

例句

The thorn pierced Rania's glove and cut her finger.

pattern: pierce + body part

A silver needle pierced the cloth near the jacket pocket.

pattern: pierce + material

同義詞
  • puncture

    focuses on making a hole, often a small one

  • stab

    more violent and especially used for attacking a person or animal

  • penetrate

    more formal and often stresses going deeply or fully through

  • prick

    used for a small, quick touch with a sharp point

文法句型

pierce + noun

pierce through + noun

用法筆記

Often takes objects such as skin, cloth, metal, or a body part. With 'through', the focus is on passing from one side to the other; sense 2 and sense 3 are not about making a physical hole.

常見錯誤

❌The thorn pierced to her skin.
✅The thorn pierced her skin.
💡'pierce' normally takes the thing entered as a direct object.
❌The nurse pierced the needle into his arm.
✅The nurse pierced his arm with the needle.
💡the object after 'pierce' is usually the surface or body part, not the tool.

2. if a light or sound pierces darkness, fog, smoke, or noise, it comes through so

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

if a light or sound pierces darkness, fog, smoke, or noise, it comes through so clearly that people notice it at once.

例句

A police siren pierced the silence before sunrise.

collocation: pierce the silence

One white beam pierced the smoke above the stage.

light cutting through smoke

同義詞
反義詞
  • fade

    to become weaker and less easy to notice

  • be muffled

    used when a sound does not come through clearly

文法句型

pierce + darkness/fog/smoke

pierce + silence/noise

用法筆記

The subject is usually a beam, light, cry, bell, or siren. The object often names what blocks clear sight or sound, such as darkness, fog, smoke, noise, or silence.

常見錯誤

❌The radio pierced in the kitchen.
✅The radio music pierced the silence in the kitchen.
💡this sense usually needs an object showing what the sound comes through.
❌The lamp pierced the wall.
✅The lamp's beam pierced the fog outside.
💡this sense is about light or sound coming through clearly, not making a physical hole.

3. to go straight into someone's feelings and cause a strong emotional reaction.

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to go straight into someone's feelings and cause a strong emotional reaction.

例句

Theo's last voicemail pierced his mother with fresh grief.

subject = message causing grief

The judge's cold remark pierced Kabir more than the fine did.

pattern: words pierce + person emotionally

同義詞
  • move

    broader and can also describe a positive emotional effect

  • sting

    used for sharp hurt caused by words, memories, or shame

  • wound

    stresses deeper and often longer-lasting emotional pain

  • hit

    more informal and broader for a sudden emotional effect

反義詞
  • comfort

    to make someone feel less sad or upset

  • reassure

    to make someone feel less worried or afraid

文法句型

pierce + person

pierce + person + with + emotion

用法筆記

The subject is often a memory, remark, silence, or piece of news, and the object is the person affected. Use this sense for strong emotional impact, not for a physical hole or for light and sound coming through darkness or noise.

常見錯誤

❌The news pierced in Kabir.
✅The news pierced Kabir.
💡this emotional sense usually takes the affected person as a direct object.
❌The song pierced the silence in the room.
✅The song pierced Tyler with homesickness.
💡this sense is about affecting someone's feelings, not simply being heard through silence.