tunnel

1 of 2

noun

tun·​nel ˈtə-nᵊl How to pronounce tunnel (audio)
Synonyms of tunnelnext
1
a
: a covered passageway
specifically : a horizontal passageway through or under an obstruction
b
: a subterranean gallery (as in a mine)
c
: burrow
2
: a hollow conduit or recess : tube, well
tunnellike
ˈtə-nᵊl-ˌ(l)īk How to pronounce tunnel (audio)
adjective

tunnel

2 of 2

verb

tunneled or tunnelled; tunneling or tunnelling
ˈtən-liŋ, 
ˈtə-nᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce tunnel (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to make or use a tunnel
2
physics : to pass through a potential barrier
electrons tunneling through an insulator between semiconductors

transitive verb

: to make a tunnel or similar opening through or under
also : to make (one's way) by or as if by making a tunnel
tunneler
ˈtən-lər, 
ˈtə-nᵊl-ər How to pronounce tunnel (audio)
noun

Examples of tunnel in a Sentence

Noun The train goes through a tunnel in the mountain. The moles dug tunnels in the yard. Verb Workers are tunneling through the hill. Insects had tunneled into the tree.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The plan includes the elimination of tunnels, arms stockpiles and weapons production facilities, the diplomat said, adding that by the end of the process there would be no remaining militant infrastructure in Gaza. — Reuters, NBC news, 31 July 2026 At times a speakeasy and a brothel, the bar used to have tunnels under the building that ran to the local courthouse. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
Verb
By tunneling under the Yangtze River, this project paves the way for a faster, direct connection between the two regions. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026 Brown says the firm also explored investing in an Israeli start-up developing underground munitions capable of tunneling beneath targets before detonating, but that deal ultimately fell through. — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tunnel

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tonel cask, tun, from Anglo-French, from tone tun

First Known Use

Noun

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1795, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tunnel was in 1508

Phrases Containing tunnel

Rhymes for tunnel

See All Rhymes for tunnel

Browse Nearby Words

tunned
tunnel
tunnel diode
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tunnel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tunnel. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tunnel

1 of 2 noun
tun·​nel ˈtən-ᵊl How to pronounce tunnel (audio)
: a passage under the ground
tunnellike
-ᵊl-ˌ(l)īk How to pronounce tunnel (audio)
adjective

tunnel

2 of 2 verb
tunneled or tunnelled; tunneling or tunnelling
ˈtən-liŋ, 
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to make a tunnel

Medical Definition

tunnel

noun
tun·​nel ˈtən-ᵊl How to pronounce tunnel (audio)
: a bodily channel see carpal tunnel

More from Merriam-Webster on tunnel

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tunnel

Nglish: Translation of tunnel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tunnel

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