trickle

/ˈtrɪkl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtrɪkl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtri-kəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈtrɪk.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtrɪk.əl/ (ame, ipa)

trickle — verb

  • tricklepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • trickleshe / she / it
  • trickledpast simple
  • trickling-ing form

1. When a liquid trickles, it flows at a slow speed over a surface or from a narrow

1.動詞不及物B1
釋義

When a liquid trickles, it flows at a slow speed over a surface or from a narrow opening, producing a stream so fine that it barely forms a continuous current.

例句

A thin line of rainwater trickled down the old stone wall beside the garden path.

trickle + down [surface]

Sweat trickled down Selim's face as he worked in the midday heat.

同義詞
  • dribble

    suggests an uneven, irregular flow that falls in separate blobs rather than a steady thin line

  • drip

    describes individual drops falling one at a time, not a continuous stream

  • seep

    implies liquid moving slowly through small holes or porous material rather than flowing along a surface

反義詞
  • gush

    describes a sudden, forceful, and large flow — the opposite of gentle

  • pour

    describes liquid flowing rapidly and in quantity

  • stream

    describes a steady, continuous flow of moderate to large volume

文法句型

trickle + preposition/adverb (down, through, from, into, out of)

常見錯誤

❌The river trickled through the valley.
✅A small stream trickled through the rocks in the valley.
💡Trickle describes a very thin, gentle flow, not a large river or strong current.
❌Water trickled from the burst pipe.
✅Water trickled from a small crack in the pipe.
💡A burst pipe would release a fast, heavy flow; trickle suits a small opening or slow leak.

2. When people, items, or information trickle somewhere, they arrive or move slowly

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

When people, items, or information trickle somewhere, they arrive or move slowly and in small numbers over a period of time, rather than all together at once.

例句

Guests trickled into the wedding reception over the first hour after the ceremony.

trickle + into [event/place]

Donations trickled in after the charity posted the emergency appeal on its website.

trickle + in — gradual arrival

同義詞
  • dribble in

    more informal; suggests an even slower or more irregular arrival in very small numbers

  • filter in

    suggests arriving gradually after passing through some check or selection process

  • drift in

    suggests arriving without a clear purpose or schedule, more casually

反義詞
  • flood in

    describes a very large number arriving at once

  • pour in

    suggests continuous, rapid arrival of many people or items

  • stream in

    describes a steady flow of people entering without pause

文法句型

trickle + adverb/preposition (in, out, back, into, away)

用法筆記

Frequently used with the direction prepositions in, out, back, into, and away. The subject is typically a group of people, vehicles, items, or pieces of information — not a single entity acting alone.

常見錯誤

❌A large crowd trickled into the stadium.
✅A few early spectators trickled into the stadium before the match.
💡Trickle suggests small numbers, making it incompatible with a crowd or a large group.
❌The news trickled in instantly.
✅The news trickled in over the course of the afternoon.
💡Trickle implies gradual, slow arrival, so it cannot be instant.

trickle — noun