tunnel

American  

[tuhn-l] / ˈtʌn l /

noun

1. an underground passage.

2. a passageway, as for trains or automobiles, through or under an obstruction, as a city, mountain, river, harbor, or the like.

3. an approximately horizontal gallery or corridor in a mine.

4. the burrow of an animal.

5. Dialect. a funnel.

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verb (used with object)

tunneled, tunneling, tunnelled, tunnelling

1. to construct a passageway through or under.

   to tunnel a mountain.

2. to make or excavate (a tunnel or underground passage).

   to tunnel a passage under a river.

3. to move or proceed by or as if by boring a tunnel.

   The river tunneled its way through the mountain.

4. to pierce or hollow out, as with tunnels.

verb (used without object)

tunneled, tunneling, tunnelled, tunnelling

1. to make a tunnel or tunnels.

   to tunnel through the Alps.

tunnel British  

/ ˈtʌnəl /

noun

1. an underground passageway, esp one for trains or cars that passes under a mountain, river, or a congested urban area

2. any passage or channel through or under something

3. a dialect word for funnel

4. obsolete the flue of a chimney

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verb

1. (tr) to make or force (a way) through or under (something)

   to tunnel a hole in the wall

   to tunnel the cliff

2. (intr; foll by through, under, etc) to make or force a way (through or under something)

   he tunnelled through the bracken

tunnel Idioms  

1. see light at the end of the tunnel.

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Other Word Forms

• subtunnel noun
• tunneler noun
• tunneller noun
• tunnellike adjective
• untunneled adjective
• untunnelled adjective

Etymology

Origin of tunnel

1400–50; late Middle English tonel (noun) < Middle French tonele, tonnelle funnel-shaped net, feminine of tonnel cask, diminutive of tonne tun; -elle

Example Sentences

Even without that rosy scenario, traders can already see some light at the end of the tunnel.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

And don’t get me started on my strained hand with carpal tunnel syndrome from all the clicking.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

NordVPN’s version is more flexible, allowing users to route specific apps or domains outside the VPN tunnel.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Others in Mid-City are adamantly opposed to tunnel boring deep under their historic homes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

This particular tunnel did not contradict the notion, for eventually the five explorers emerged into what seemed to be a dense, velvety soft thicket.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• channel
• hole
• mine
• pit
• shaft
• subway
• underpass