trough

noun

ˈtrȯf How to pronounce trough (audio)
Definition of troughnext
1
as in pipe
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) all of the wiring for the converted residential loft is concealed in a vertical trough

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ditch
a long narrow channel dug in the earth I slid and fell into the trough by the side of the road, scraping my leg

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in gutter
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof the troughs on the eaves of the house were clogged with leaves

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trough By Thursday, the Eastern Pacific trough that helped pump up the moisture earlier in the week will arrive, bringing a weak cold front and kicking off a late-week cooling trend. — Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 13 July 2026 But Kostyuk, who has done tremendous work of her own this season to add solidity and evenness to a tennis arsenal with impossible peaks, but also deep troughs, had reasons to do much more than feel the agony of missing out. — James Hansen, New York Times, 9 July 2026 By Sunday and the following week, early signs point to a return to normal as our trough erodes along with our cooler temperatures. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026 Mention of the farm brought to mind a make-believe oasis of sunshine, warm fields of thick, green grass, fat red apples hanging from a tree, oats mixed with brown sugar in the trough, and a cool, clear stream winding through the center of it all. — Will MacKin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for trough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trough
  1. pipe
  2. ditch
  3. gutter
  4. conduit
  5. trench
  6. tube
  7. ravine
  8. funnel
Noun
  • Sometime after 2021, Higgs constructed a parking lot and installed an undersized pipe in an attempt to permit the surface water to pass under the lot.
    — Zuri Primos July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
  • The project seeks to add two new compressor units to an existing station on High Meadow Lane, increasing pipeline capacity without installing a new pipe, but requires final state air quality permits before moving forward.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026
Definition of pipe
Noun
  • The city later determined that roughly 300 gallons of ferric chloride, diluted with reuse water, had flowed into a drainage ditch, the report said.
    — Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 28 July 2026
  • The last-ditch appeal to his humanity worked; Henderson allegedly stopped, got dressed and left, according to court records.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
Definition of ditch
Noun
  • These fiery particles seek out the smallest vulnerabilities, lodging in gutters, slipping through attic vents or settling into dry debris near your home.
    — Neil Collins, Washington Post, 24 July 2026
  • Start by making sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and directing water away from your home’s foundation.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Definition of gutter
Noun
  • Sitting at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, the strait serves as a conduit for about 12% of global trade and has become even more vital for Saudi oil exports following the shuttering of the Strait of Hormuz.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 27 July 2026
  • The White House press corps, the conduit that routes and shapes the official government narrative, has itself been reshaped, its composition altered to better reflect the President’s preferences.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Definition of conduit
Noun
  • The modest trench that once plagued the Galaxy Z Fold series' inner display is virtually gone.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 23 July 2026
  • Crews have welded in new steel pipe, tested for leaks and begun preparing the 25-foot-deep trench for backfilling, concrete slurry, asphalt and water-quality checks before traffic can return.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of trench
Noun
  • Scientists held an absorbent plastic tube near a mole rat for about half an hour to pick up the volatile molecules coming off its body.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
  • Workers also had to remove more cabling than planned to install the new launch tubes, which added extra work and delayed the schedule.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026
Definition of tube
Noun
  • Both vehicles went into a nearby ravine and the tree line, a police report said.
    — Emily Harter, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • On the steel side, Phantom’s Revenge turns 25, still dropping riders 232 feet into the ravine at speeds around 85 mph and earning national attention as a USA TODAY 10Best‑nominated coaster.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of ravine
Noun
  • In embracing the breaks as a new opportunity to jam more marketing bucks into the funnel, Fox waltzed off with a bigger share of the World Cup’s largesse.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026
  • Price out a web-checkout funnel for EU users before your competitors do.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of funnel

Phrases Containing trough

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troublous
trough
troughs
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Cite this Entry

“Trough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trough. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trough

Nglish: Translation of trough for Spanish Speakers

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