tunnel

1 of 2

noun

tun·​nel ˈtə-nᵊl 

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 

adjective

tunnel

2 of 2

verb

tunneled or tunnelled; tunneling or tunnelling

ˈtən-liŋ,

ˈtə-nᵊl-iŋ 

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 

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

Noun

LeagueFits launched on Instagram in 2018, quickly becoming a major outlet for fashion in both the NBA and WNBA, pushing attention toward tunnel fits and player self-expression in general. —Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025

The incident took place along Paradise Road, where the Boring Company has been working on expanding its tunnel system to the Las Vegas airport. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025

Verb

Fortunately, upgrading secure network communications, such as VPNs and ZTNA connections, means that the broad range of applications that tunnel inside of these communications benefit from the security of those connections. —Anand Oswal, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Last week, during his visit to India, the Chinese foreign minister assured that his country will address the India's need for rare earths, tunnel boring machines and fertilizers. —Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing tunnel

• a light at the end of the tunnel
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• high tunnel
• tunnel vision
• wind tunnel

Rhymes for tunnel

• bunnell
• funnel
• multifunctional

Kids Definition

tunnel

1 of 2 noun

tun·​nel ˈtən-ᵊl 

: a passage under the ground

tunnellike

-ᵊl-ˌ(l)īk 

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 

: a bodily channel see carpal tunnel