Definition of troughnext
1
as in pipe
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) all of the wiring for the converted residential loft is concealed in a vertical trough

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2
as in ditch
a long narrow channel dug in the earth I slid and fell into the trough by the side of the road, scraping my leg

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3
as in gutter
a pipe or channel for carrying off water from a roof the troughs on the eaves of the house were clogged with leaves

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of trough With air rushing back in to fill the region as the trough of lower pressure disappears, wind will gust 15-20 mph across the Central Valley and foothills later Tuesday afternoon and evening to fill the void. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Their Angora goats and Rambouillet sheep roam over the land, stopping at a network of water troughs. — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Despite worries over the Iran war, high inflation and pressures from the bond market, the index at the heart of many 401(k) accounts has soared 23% since hitting a trough in late March. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 Leftover moisture from Hurricane Polo and Tropical Storm Odalys will merge with an already existing trough, which brings cold temperatures and rainy weather, to intensify rainstorms, AccuWeather forecasters said in a news release. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trough
Noun
  • According to the arrest affidavit police obtained a search warrant and found a glass jar, aluminum powder, black iron oxide and a pipe that was empty at the time.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Today, tank farms line both sides of the coastal highway near the port, and a network of pipes moves products among terminals and to ships.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The car then went off the road to the east, went into a ditch and struck a tree.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Hilly woods or swamps with lots of folds, ditches, and creeks are best for ground hunting.
    — Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Infrastructure funding would be used to maintain pavement, curbs, gutters, alleys, bridges and culverts throughout the city.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
  • There are no people in her piece, simply 45 silver images of Bowery storefronts and gutters, typically littered with empty bottles.
    — J. Hoberman, ARTnews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Soto became the conduit, Day and Haitian sources said, for receiving the Haitian government’s $15 million partial payment on the contract.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Creators Drop The Pranks And Get Serious MIPCOM was a conduit for the developing creator economy this year, with the focus switching to those YouTube and digital stars who are actually building businesses.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Sharp suits and smoking jackets came alongside cocoon shapes, functional hunting jackets, double-breasted trenches and generous winter coats, with longer lengths and full collars suggesting the urban style of the 1980s and ’90s.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Oversized bombers and close-fitting cropped styles mingle with polished trenches, slouchy anoraks, and classic motos.
    — Christina Holevas, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Bronchial asthma, or simply asthma, is, according to the Cleveland Clinic, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes the breathing tubes in the lungs to swell, narrow, and produce extra mucus.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But the first third, yes, there are a lot of cathode ray tube TV screens.
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Killing a Bear Movistar Plus, Arte France In 2020, Cachou, a brown bear, is found dead in a ravine, sparking a criminal investigation.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The standout among the entertaining spaces is the baby-blue kitchen, which extends from the rear of the home into a rounded turret overlooking a ravine.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Finish with Khaite’s funnel-neck leather jacket and Savette’s caramel top-handle bag.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Exclusive to the new vessel is the two-story Believe Tower Suite, which sleeps eight inside the forward funnel and draws inspiration from the Magic Kingdom.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trough. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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