through
/θruː/ (bre, ipa) · [θrˈu] /θruː/ (ame, ipa) · [θrˈu] /ˈthrü/ (ame, mw)
through — preposition
1. going in one side or end of a space, object, or barrier and coming out the oppos
going in one side or end of a space, object, or barrier and coming out the opposite side or end
Lakan pushed the needle through the thick fabric and pulled it out the other side.
through + concrete object (fabric)
The old wooden gate creaked as the children ran through it into the garden.
Cold air was leaking through a small crack in the window frame of the bedroom.
Water dripped through the ceiling and left a dark stain on the carpet below.
Joaquín watched the train speed through the station without stopping at the platform.
文法句型
through + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense always involves physical movement or penetration from one side of something to the other. The object of 'through' is the thing being crossed or penetrated.
常見錯誤
2. lasting from the beginning of a period until it ends
lasting from the beginning of a period until it ends
Nala stayed awake through the entire movie because the plot was so exciting.
through + entire + noun phrase (the entire movie)
The bakery stays open through the winter months even when few customers come in.
Dahlia worked through the night to finish the report before the morning meeting.
Rohan studied through the summer vacation while his friends went to the beach.
The camp stayed open through the long holiday weekend in July.
- throughout
stronger emphasis on covering every part of the period
- during
can refer to any point within the period, not necessarily the whole
文法句型
through + time period
用法筆記
Unlike 'during', which can refer to a point within a period, 'through' implies the entire duration from beginning to end.
常見錯誤
3. up to and including a particular day, time, or item in a series, with the endpoi
up to and including a particular day, time, or item in a series, with the endpoint counted as part of the range
The store is having a sale from Wednesday through Saturday this week only.
from [start] through [end] (inclusive range pattern)
Students must read chapters one through ten for next Monday's exam.
The museum will be closed from January through March for building repairs.
Otis booked a hotel room from Friday through Sunday for the weekend trip.
文法句型
from + start + through + end
用法筆記
Chiefly American English. In British English, 'to' or 'until' is used instead, and the inclusive meaning must be stated separately. Always paired with 'from' when marking a start point.
常見錯誤
4. used to show the process, effort, or situation that brought about a result
used to show the process, effort, or situation that brought about a result
Talia got the job through hard work and careful preparation for the interview.
through + effort (hard work, dedication)
The company lost a lot of money through poor management decisions last year.
Christopher improved his Spanish through daily practice with native speakers.
Many families lost their homes through no fault of their own during the flood.
The peace agreement was reached through months of difficult talks between both sides.
- because of
more direct and neutral; works for both positive and negative causes
- due to
more formal, often used in writing
- thanks to
informal and positive
文法句型
through + noun phrase (cause)
用法筆記
Often used with positive outcomes (success through effort) or neutral causal chains. For purely negative causes, 'because of' or 'due to' may sound more natural in modern English.
常見錯誤
5. using a person, organization, system, or method as the channel for doing somethi
using a person, organization, system, or method as the channel for doing something
Élise booked her flight through an online travel agency that offered good prices.
through + intermediary (agency, contact, system)
The message was sent through a secure email system to protect the patient's information.
Walid found his lost wallet through a kind stranger who returned it to the police.
You can apply for the scholarship through the university website before the deadline.
The charity raises money through donations from local businesses and community members.
文法句型
through + noun phrase (method)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (CAUSE): this sense focuses on the channel or tool used, not the reason. Test it — if you can replace 'through' with 'using' without changing the meaning, it is this sense.
常見錯誤
through — adjective
- throughpositive
- throughercomparative
- throughestsuperlative
1. having reached the end of a task, activity, or relationship; no longer engaged i
having reached the end of a task, activity, or relationship; no longer engaged in something
Joon was finally through with his homework after three hours of solving math problems.
be through with + noun (task)
When you are through with the magazine, leave it on the coffee table.
The mechanic said he would be through with the car repairs by five o'clock.
After the argument, Rohan told his roommate that they were through living together.
- busy
still engaged in the activity
文法句型
be + through (with something)
用法筆記
Used only after a form of 'be' (predicative position). 'Through' in this sense cannot go before a noun — you cannot say 'a through student'. Often followed by 'with' when specifying what is finished.
常見錯誤
2. having passed an exam, contest, or selection stage and moved on to the next one
having passed an exam, contest, or selection stage and moved on to the next one
Nala was through to the final round after beating the top seed in tennis.
be through to + next stage (final, next round)
Only three teams are through to the championship game after the semifinal matches ended.
Christopher is through to the interview stage of the job application process.
Adisa could not believe he was through to the next level of the music competition.
- eliminated
removed from the competition
文法句型
be + through (to something)
用法筆記
Followed by 'to' to indicate the next stage. This sense is commonly used in sports, exams, and competitive selection contexts.
常見錯誤
3. referring to a train, bus, flight, or route that covers the whole journey betwee
referring to a train, bus, flight, or route that covers the whole journey between its origin and destination without forcing travelers to change vehicles
A through train runs daily from London to Edinburgh without any stops in between.
through train / through bus (attributive use before noun)
Passengers on the through flight do not need to change planes at any airport.
The travel agent recommended a through bus that goes straight to the coastal resort town.
Otis bought a through ticket to travel from Boston to Chicago without switching trains.
- direct
more common and less formal; 'direct train' and 'through train' are often interchangeable
- connecting
requires a change of vehicle
文法句型
through + noun (transport type)
用法筆記
This sense is used only before a noun (attributive position), unlike the other adjective senses. Common in transport and travel contexts.
常見錯誤
through — adverb
1. from one side or end to the other, passing across the full space of something
from one side or end to the other, passing across the full space of something
The gate was locked, so the cat squeezed through and ran into the yard.
verb + through (squeeze through, push through)
The bullet went clean through and lodged itself in the wooden wall behind.
Dahlia held the card up to the light and could see the watermark showing through.
The road was blocked by snow, so no cars could get through to the village.
文法句型
verb + through
all the way through
用法筆記
In this adverb sense, 'through' follows a verb and does not take an object. The barrier or space being crossed is understood from context.
常見錯誤
2. from the beginning to the end of an activity, performance, or piece of text with
from the beginning to the end of an activity, performance, or piece of text without stopping
Élise read the letter all the way through before she said anything about it.
all the way through (emphatic form)
The audience sat through the long play even though many of them were tired.
Christopher listened to the entire album through without skipping a single song.
Joon watched the documentary through and learned a lot about ocean pollution.
- completely
can replace 'through' in some contexts but is broader in meaning
文法句型
read/listen/work + all the way through
用法筆記
Often paired with 'all the way' for emphasis. Unlike 'through' as a preposition (sense TIME SPAN), this adverb does not take an object — the activity is implied.
常見錯誤
3. to the point where a task, process, or piece of work has been fully finished
to the point where a task, process, or piece of work has been fully finished
Talia promised to stay at the office until she was through with the project.
be through (meaning: finished working)
The team worked all weekend and finally got through with the software update.
Once Walid is through with his training, he will start working at the hospital.
Lakan was through with the cleaning by noon and went out to meet his friends.
文法句型
be/get + through
用法筆記
Predominantly used with 'be' or 'get'. The 'with' phrase is optional when the context makes the task clear ('I'm through!' means 'I'm done!').
常見錯誤
4. to the fullest degree; in every part or aspect of something, leaving no part una
to the fullest degree; in every part or aspect of something, leaving no part unaffected
Samira is a painter through and through — she sees colors and shapes everywhere she goes.
through and through (fixed phrase meaning completely)
The wood was rotten through and through and crumbled at the slightest touch.
Omar is a teacher through and through, patient with every student who struggles in class.
The old blanket was soaked through and through after being left out in the rain.
- completely
standard and widely applicable
- entirely
slightly more formal
文法句型
through and through
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'through and through'. The doubled form intensifies the meaning — it is not a repetition for style but a fixed expression of totality.