1
a
: a long shallow often V-shaped receptacle for the drinking water or feed of domestic animals
b
: any of various domestic or industrial containers
2
a
: a conduit, drain, or channel for water
especially
: a gutter along the eaves of a building
b
: a long and narrow or shallow channel or depression (as between waves or hills)
especially
: a long but shallow depression in the bed of the sea compare trench
3
: the minimum point of a complete cycle of a periodic function: such as
a
: an elongated area of low barometric pressure
b
: the low point in a business cycle
Examples of trough in a Sentence
The economy is in a trough right now.
all of the wiring for the converted residential loft is concealed in a vertical trough
Recent Examples on the Web
Milwaukee's February is starting out with a warm-up as a barometric trough is moving out of the area, VanCleave said.
—
Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The trough will be crashing through a pattern of high pressure that has kept temperatures unusually warm and made January mostly dry and the air not always clean.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
In the upper atmosphere, where the jet stream flows, a classic ridge-and-trough pattern is visible, with the trough extending deep into Texas.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Our Fibonacci retracement levels on a five-year basis coincide with the peak-to-trough move going back from its 2022 lows to recent peaks.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trough
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Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The trough will be crashing through a pattern of high pressure that has kept temperatures unusually warm and made January mostly dry and the air not always clean.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
In the upper atmosphere, where the jet stream flows, a classic ridge-and-trough pattern is visible, with the trough extending deep into Texas.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Our Fibonacci retracement levels on a five-year basis coincide with the peak-to-trough move going back from its 2022 lows to recent peaks.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trough
Cite this Entry
“Trough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trough. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trough
noun1
: a long shallow container for the drinking water or feed of domestic animals
2
: a pipe, drain, or channel for water
especially
: gutter entry 1 sense 1a
3
: a long and narrow or shallow hollow (as between waves or hills)
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