1
a
: a covered passageway
specifically
: a horizontal passageway through or under an obstruction
b
: a subterranean gallery (as in a mine)
c
: burrow
tunneled or tunnelled; tunneling or tunnelling
ˈtən-liŋ,
ˈtə-nᵊl-iŋ
1
: to make or use a tunnel
2
physics
: to pass through a potential barrier
electrons tunneling through an insulator between semiconductors
: to make a tunnel or similar opening through or under
also
: to make (one's way) by or as if by making a tunnel
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
Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
As was Amorim, who appeared remarkably calm in the tunnel, speaking to presenter Jules Breach and pundit Rio Ferdinand.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Patrick McGeehan, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Last March, thieves tried to tunnel into a jeweler at the Topanga Canyon Plaza in Chatsworth.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tunnel
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Noun
One shaft of light at the end of that tunnel could be savings on last-minute summer trips as travelers increasingly take a wait-and-see stance with their plans.
—Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
As was Amorim, who appeared remarkably calm in the tunnel, speaking to presenter Jules Breach and pundit Rio Ferdinand.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Verb
The peak-hour toll to enter New York by bridge or tunnel in a passenger car is $16.06.
—Patrick McGeehan, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Last March, thieves tried to tunnel into a jeweler at the Topanga Canyon Plaza in Chatsworth.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tunnel
Cite this Entry
“Tunnel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tunnel. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
: a bodily channel see carpal tunnel
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