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
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.
Noun
Large vents, openings, and aerodynamic tunnels dominate the rear bodywork, creating a sense of lightness despite the car’s width. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Workers constructed a special tunnel to bring the larger ones into the building, in Midtown Manhattan. — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Verb
Bare walls give hallways a tunnel-like look. — Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 7 June 2026 Other task force members expect to spend much of their time cutting and tunneling through concrete. — Larry Seward, CBS News, 27 June 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 7 Jul. 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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