funnel

1 of 2

noun

fun·​nel ˈfə-nᵊl 

1

a

: a utensil that is usually a hollow cone with a tube extending from the smaller end and that is designed to catch and direct a downward flow

b

: something shaped like a funnel

2

: a stack or flue for the escape of smoke or for ventilation (as on a ship)

funnel

2 of 2

verb

funneled also funnelled; funneling also funnelling

intransitive verb

1

: to have or take the shape of a funnel

2

: to pass through or as if through a funnel or conduit

the crowd funnels through the doors

transitive verb

1

: to form in the shape of a funnel

funneled his hands and shouted through them

2

: to move to a focal point or into a conduit or central channel

contributions were funneled into one account

Synonyms

Verb

• canalize
• channel
• channelize
• conduct
• direct
• pipe
• siphon
• syphon

Examples of funnel in a Sentence

Noun

the funnel cloud of a tornado

Verb

Winds funneled through the canyon.

Smoke funneled up the chimney.

The crowd funneled through the doors.

He funneled the gas into the tank.

They funneled money into the campaign.

The information was being secretly funneled to the head of the organization.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Traffic on the bridge was temporarily stopped while the tops of the ship’s towering funnels passed less than 10 feet beneath the roadway. —Isabelle Taft, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line The ship’s top-tier, 2,000-square-foot suite, a two-story affair built into the ship’s forward funnel—available to those willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a weeklong cruise—is based entirely on Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. —Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025

Verb

In this model, vendors might be selected based less on what was good for security and for inmate families and more on how much cash the vendor could funnel to the jail. —Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025

The aid has been funneled through three different programs, each authorized and appropriated by Congress. —Celeste A. Wallander, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English funell, fonel, borrowed from Anglo-French fonyle, borrowed from Old Occitan (Gascony, Périgord) fonilh, going back to early Medieval Latin fundibulum, shortened from Latin infundibulum, from infundere "to pour in, fill (with something poured in)" + -i- -i- + -bulum, instrumental suffix (going back to Indo-European *-d^hlom) — more at infuse

Note: As noted by Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, the incidence of this Occitan word in English (and Anglo-French) is most likely due to commercial contacts between England and the wine merchants of the Bordeaux region.

Verb

verbal derivative of funnel entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1594, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing funnel

• funnel cloud

Rhymes for funnel

• bunnell
• tunnel
• multifunctional

Kids Definition

funnel

1 of 2 noun

fun·​nel ˈfən-ᵊl 

1

: a utensil usually shaped like a hollow cone with a tube extending from the point and used to catch and direct a downward flow (as of liquid)

2

: something shaped like a funnel

the funnel cloud of a tornado

3

: a large pipe for the escape of smoke or for ventilation (as on a ship)

funnel

2 of 2 verb

funneled also funnelled; funneling also funnelling

: to move or cause to move to a central point or into a central channel

Medical Definition

funnel

noun

fun·​nel ˈfən-ᵊl 

: a utensil that is usually a hollow cone with a tube extending from the smaller end and that is designed to catch and direct a downward flow see büchner funnel