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• pierce
  pierce

  verb (used with object)

  to penetrate into or run through (something), as a sharp, pointed dagger, object, or instrument does.
• Pierce
  Pierce

  noun

  Franklin, 1804–69, 14th president of the U.S. 1853–57.

pierce

¹ American  

[peers] / pɪərs /

verb (used with object)

• pierces,
  present (3rd person singular)
• pierced,
  past participle,  past
• piercing
  present participle

1. to penetrate into or run through (something), as a sharp, pointed dagger, object, or instrument does.

   Synonyms:

   puncture, enter

2. to make a hole or opening in.

3. to bore into or through; tunnel.

4. to perforate.

5. to make (a hole, opening, etc.) by or as by boring or perforating.

6. to make a way or path into or through.

   a road that pierces the dense jungle.

7. to penetrate with the eye or mind; see into or through.

   She couldn't pierce his thoughts.

8. to affect sharply with some sensation or emotion, as of cold, pain, or grief.

   The wind pierced her body. Her words pierced our hearts.

   Synonyms:

   thrill, strike, move, touch

9. to sound sharply through (the air, stillness, etc.).

   A pistol shot pierced the night.

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verb (used without object)

• pierces,
  present (3rd person singular)
• pierced,
  past participle,  past
• piercing
  present participle

1. to force or make a way into or through something; penetrate.

   to pierce to the heart.

Pierce ² American  

[peers] / pɪərs /

noun

1. Franklin, 1804–69, 14th president of the U.S. 1853–57.

2. John Robinson, 1910–2002, U.S. electrical engineer: helped develop communications satellites.

3. a male given name, form of Peter.

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pierce ¹ British  

/ pɪəs /

verb

1. to form or cut (a hole) in (something) with or as if with a sharp instrument

2. to thrust into or penetrate sharply or violently

   the thorn pierced his heel

3. to force (a way, route, etc) through (something)

4. (of light) to shine through or penetrate (darkness)

5. (also intr) to discover or realize (something) suddenly or (of an idea) to become suddenly apparent

6. (of sounds or cries) to sound sharply through (the silence)

7. to move or affect (a person's emotions, bodily feelings, etc) deeply or sharply

   the cold pierced their bones

8. (intr) to penetrate or be capable of penetrating

   piercing cold

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Pierce ² British  

/ pɪəs /

noun

1. Franklin. 1804–69, US statesman; 14th president of the US (1853–57)

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Usage

What does pierce mean? To pierce something is to penetrate or puncture it, usually with something sharp, making a hole in the process. This sense of the word is associated with needles and other thin, sharp objects used to pierce surfaces. To pierce someone’s ear is to make a hole in it with a needle so that an earring can be inserted. This is called a piercing. The word can be used in the context of someone doing the piercing, as in You will need to pierce the skin with this needle, or in the context of an object piercing something, as in The needle pierced the skin. Things that have been pierced can be described with the adjective pierced, as in pierced ears.  Things that pierce aren’t always sharp. Sometimes, things pierce by penetrating with force. For example, bullets and artillery shells that are designed to pierce protective coverings and shields are described as armor-piercing. More broadly, pierce can mean to make a hole, opening, tunnel, or path into or through something, as in The mountain is pierced by a long tunnel.  These literal senses of pierce are the basis of several figurative senses of the word. Pierce can mean to see into or through, as if penetrating something with the eye or mind, as in Her stare pierced my soul. It can also mean to affect intensely or sharply, as in The wind pierced my face or Your writing needs to pierce the reader’s heart. An insult can pierce you in this way—meaning it can cut you deeply. Similarly, shrill sounds can be said to pierce your ears, the air, or the stillness, and light can be said to pierce the darkness. The word piercing can also be used as an adjective to describe things that are intense, penetrating, or sharp in a figurative way, as in a piercing wind, a piercing scream, a piercing stare, or a piercing remark. Example: This tarp is pretty thick, so to pierce it you’ll have to really stab the stake through it forcefully.

Synonym Usage

Pierce, penetrate suggest the action of one object passing through another or making a way through and into another. The terms are used both concretely and figuratively. To pierce is to perforate quickly, as by stabbing; it suggests the use of a sharp, pointed instrument which is impelled by force: to pierce the flesh with a knife; a scream pierces one's ears. Penetrate suggests a slow or difficult movement: No ordinary bullet can penetrate an elephant's hide; to penetrate the depths of one's ignorance.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• piercer
  noun
• pierceable
  adjective
• unpierceable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• piercing
  present
• pierced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• pierce
  simple
• pierces
  simple
• have pierced
  perfect
• has pierced
  perfect
• am piercing
  progressive
• are piercing
  progressive
• is piercing
  progressive
• have been piercing
  perfect progressive
• has been piercing
  perfect progressive

Past

• pierced
  simple
• had pierced
  perfect
• was piercing
  progressive
• were piercing
  progressive
• had been piercing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will pierce
  simple
• will have pierced
  perfect
• will be piercing
  progressive
• will have been piercing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of pierce

1250–1300; Middle English percen < Old French perc ( i ) er < Vulgar Latin *pertūsiāre, verbal derivative of Latin pertūsus, past participle of pertundere to bore a hole through, perforate, equivalent to per- per- + tundere to strike, beat

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Explanation

If something pokes your hand, you will probably look at your hand to see if it pierced the skin. To pierce means to go right through, especially with something sharp. Pierce has several meanings, but they all involve something sharp penetrating something else, like scissors through a plastic bag or a pen through a pocket. You can also pierce confusion by saying something that makes everything clear. Another meaning has to do with sound. Much like a knife, a sharp sound can pierce the silence and a loud, high shriek will pierce your ears.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pierce Pierce pierces pierced piercing

It was then, two minutes after the break, that Alexander-Arnold delivered a moment beyond those Tuchel has chosen ahead of him at right-back to pierce that stubborn resistance.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

When a female mosquito bites, it uses specialized mouthparts to pierce through the skin of its chosen host and into the blood vessels.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

During charging, tiny tree-like structures called dendrites can grow from the lithium anode, pierce the solid electrolyte, and create internal short circuits.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026

Some courts may be less willing to extend trust protections in such cases, though courts do not routinely pierce spendthrift protections simply because the underlying conduct of a beneficiary was wrongful.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 16, 2026

The sun was up, but it was struggling to pierce a thick gray curtain.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

While the area may not have been his favorite, the Brolins certainly made the home their own, tapping celebrated interior design studio, Pierce and Ward, to decorate it with a traditional, baronial aesthetic.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

Before the winner, Pierce Charles had saved a controversial penalty from Georgia captain Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and his brother Shea had an appeal waved away at the other end.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

However, if the government does return the surcharge to 8%, this would override all other considerations for Jefferies in the sector and lead to a far more cautious stance, Pierce says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

“It’s taking the government’s supervision and enforcement tools and figuring out how you can use them the way the Reaganites used them,” Pierce said.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

That’s when Grandpa yelled into Papa’s ear about the Pierce.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

The sound of anti-aircraft guns pierces the sky as conversations at the market revolve around rising prices and the coming winter.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

As we talk, on occasion the screeching call of a toucan pierces the quiet, and miles above, the same giant black birds hover menacingly in groups, surveying everything below.

From Slate ● Mar. 30, 2026

Sell oil if it breaks $90, fade the dollar rally if its index pierces 100 and buy the long bond if it hits 5%.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 6, 2026

Antonio Obá’s painting of a monk-like horseman at Mendes Wood DM, his copper-hued cloak glimmering under a turquoise sky while his gaze pierces the viewer, is a small master class in paint-handling and color theory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

A twinkle pierces her eyes like stars peeping out of the night sky.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman

A steel beam had pierced a subway station like a lawn dart.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

Dior’s Hardcore era, with pierced bags from 20 years ago that are still deeply coveted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Archaeologists recently uncovered jewelry that included a pierced deer tooth and beads, all carbon dated to around 11,000 years ago.

From Science Daily ● May 20, 2026

Claire’s, the accessories store and mall staple that has pierced the ears of more than 131 million customers over the decades, had long built its brand with a distinctive shade of bright violet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

Heather—who is so lucky—got her ears pierced for Christmas, so we’ve got to hit Claire’s for new earrings.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

Ear-piercing chain Rowan is introducing a new store format featuring private piercing suites and higher-end materials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

In a four-star review, external, the Times noted how Heaton's "casually funny" and "deceptively piercing" latest album "again confirms his gift for dissecting human weakness with an unsentimental but humane eye".

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

There’s a serious, piercing look on De’Andre Kirkpatrick’s face.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

But just then, a piercing pink light appears outside, and a low, opaque mist begins to creep through the seams of your tent.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

When Pinmei looked up, Yishan’s eyes were piercing hers, daring and encouraging at the same time.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin

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