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• channel
  channel

  noun

  the bed of a stream, river, or other waterway.
• Channel
  Channel

  noun

  short for English Channel

channel

¹ American  

[chan-l] / ˈtʃæn l /

noun

1. 

   the bed of a stream, river, or other waterway.

2. Nautical. a navigable route between two bodies of water.

3. the deeper part of a waterway.

4. a wide strait, as between a continent and an island.

5. a course into which something may be directed.

   He hoped to direct the conversation to a new channel.

6. a route through which anything passes or progresses.

   channels of trade.

7. channels, the specific, prescribed, or official course or means of communication.

   In an emergency he was able to reach the governor without going through channels.

8. a groove or furrow.

   Synonyms:

   cut, rut, groove, furrow, trough, trench

9. a means of access.

   He considers the Senate a channel to the White House.

10. Architecture.

    1. a flute in a column, especially one having no fillet between it and other flutes.

    2. any of the prominent vertical grooves in a triglyph.

11. (in jazz or popular music) a bridge.

12. Telecommunications. a frequency band of sufficient width for one- or two-way communication from or to a transmitter used for television, radio, CB radio, telephone, or telegraph communication.

13. Computers. a path for the transfer of signals or data within a computer or between a computer and its peripheral equipment.

14. Digital Technology.

    1. feed.

       Learn how to create your own web channel.

    2. a web page or website that distributes frequently updated content by means of a feed.

       Subscribe to my YouTube channel.

15. either of the two signals in stereophonic or any single signal in multichannel sound recording and reproduction.

16. Cell Biology. a transient opening made by a protein embedded in a cell membrane, permitting passage of specific ions or molecules into or out of the cell.

    calcium channel.

17. a tubular passage for liquids or fluids.

18. Building Trades.

    1. any structural member, as one of reinforced concrete, having the form of three sides of a rectangle.

    2. a number of such members.

       channel in 100-foot lengths.

    3. channel iron.

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verb (used with object)

• channels,
  present (3rd person singular)
• channeled,
  past participle,  past
• channelled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• channeling,
  present participle
• channelling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to convey through or as through a channel.

   He channeled the information to us.

   Synonyms:

   focus, direct, concentrate, steer, route, conduct, pipe, funnel, transport, convey, carry

2. to direct toward or into some particular course.

   to channel one's interests.

3. to excavate as a channel.

4. to form a channel in; groove.

5. to professedly reach or convey messages from (a spiritual guide) by entering a meditative or trancelike state.

6. to imitate the ideas, appearance, etc., of (a person or thing that is admired).

   At times he seems to be channeling the late Michael Jackson’s vocal stylings.

verb (used without object)

• channels,
  present (3rd person singular)
• channeled,
  past participle,  past
• channelled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• channeling,
  present participle
• channelling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to become marked by a channel.

   Soft earth has a tendency to channel during a heavy rain.

channel ² American  

[chan-l] / ˈtʃæn l /

Also chain wale,

noun

1. a horizontal timber or ledge built outboard from the side of a sailing vessel to spread shrouds and backstays outward.

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channel ¹ British  

/ ˈtʃænəl /

noun

1. a broad strait connecting two areas of sea

2. the bed or course of a river, stream, or canal

3. a navigable course through a body of water

4. (often plural) a means or agency of access, communication, etc

   to go through official channels

5. a course into which something can be directed or moved

   a new channel of thought

6. electronics

   1. a band of radio frequencies assigned for a particular purpose, esp the broadcasting of a television signal

   2. a path for an electromagnetic signal

      a stereo set has two channels

   3. a thin semiconductor layer between the source and drain of a field-effect transistor, the conductance of which is controlled by the gate voltage

7. a tubular or trough-shaped passage for fluids

8. a groove or flute, as in the shaft of a column

9. computing

   1. a path along which data can be transmitted between a central processing unit and one or more peripheral devices

   2. one of the lines along the length of a paper tape on which information can be stored in the form of punched holes

10. short for channel iron

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verb

1. to provide or be provided with a channel or channels; make or cut channels in (something)

2. (tr) to guide into or convey through a channel or channels

   information was channelled through to them

3. to serve as a medium through whom the spirit of (a person of a former age) allegedly communicates with the living

4. (tr) to exhibit the traits of (another person) in one’s actions

5. (tr) to form a groove or flute in (a column, etc)

Channel ² British  

/ ˈtʃænəl /

noun

1. short for English Channel

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channel ³ British  

/ ˈtʃænəl /

noun

1. nautical a flat timber or metal ledge projecting from the hull of a vessel above the chainplates to increase the angle of the shrouds

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channel Scientific  

/ chăn′əl /

1. A specified frequency band for the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals, as for television signals.

2. The part of a field effect transistor, usually U-shaped, through which current flows from the source to the drain.

3. See more at field effect transistor

4. A pathway through a protein molecule in a cell membrane that modulates the electrical potential across the membrane by controlling the passage of small inorganic ions into and out of the cell.

5. The bed or deepest part of a river or harbor.

6. A large strait, especially one that connects two seas.

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channel Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing channel

• go through channels

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• channeler
  noun
• channeller
  noun
• multichanneled
  adjective
• multichannelled
  adjective
• nonchanneled
  adjective
• unchanneled
  adjective
• unchannelled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• channeling
  present
• channelling
  present
• channeled
  past
• channelled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• channel
  simple
• channels
  simple
• have channeled
  perfect
• have channelled
  perfect
• has channeled
  perfect
• has channelled
  perfect
• am channeling
  progressive
• am channelling
  progressive
• are channeling
  progressive
• are channelling
  progressive
• is channeling
  progressive
• is channelling
  progressive
• have been channeling
  perfect progressive
• have been channelling
  perfect progressive
• has been channeling
  perfect progressive
• has been channelling
  perfect progressive

Past

• channeled
  simple
• channelled
  simple
• had channeled
  perfect
• had channelled
  perfect
• was channeling
  progressive
• was channelling
  progressive
• were channeling
  progressive
• were channelling
  progressive
• had been channeling
  perfect progressive
• had been channelling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will channel
  simple
• will have channeled
  perfect
• will have channelled
  perfect
• will be channeling
  progressive
• will be channelling
  progressive
• will have been channeling
  perfect progressive
• will have been channelling
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of channel¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English chanel, can(n)el, from Old French chanel, canel, from Latin canālis “waterpipe, conduit”; see canal

Origin of channel²

First recorded in 1760–70; variant of chain wale

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Explanation

A channel is a passageway, a means of access for a thing, a communication, or an idea. Think of a channel as sort of a tunnel or a funnel that moves something directly through. The noun channel can be used for many such avenues. It can mean a waterway such as the English Channel — the "Chunnel" is a tunnel beneath the Channel — or a means of accomplishing a goal, as in "going through legal channels." Use it as a verb when you channel your energies to achieve success.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

channel Channel channels channeled channelled channeling channelling

Around 2013, the channel picked up steam as the couple began posting reaction videos to viral social media clips.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

The Slovenian-born former model has been pursuing a parallel diplomatic track on Ukraine since October 2025, when she announced that she established a channel of communication with Putin.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

Balesni sent a link to the proposal in an OpenAI Slack channel that included two dozen staffers, including Chief Scientist Jakub Pachocki.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Firstly, countries viewed as unfriendly by Moscow still wanted at least some channel of communication with Russian officials to get an accurate picture of what was happening inside the country.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Somehow they’d landed several hundred yards from the banks of Acheron, which flowed through a channel cut into black volcanic hills.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

On the Channel Islands, fresh food shortages are expected in the coming days due to a lack of ferry services, according to the boss of the Co-op there.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

The special Gogglebox edition airs on Channel 4 at 21:05 BST.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Trips back across the English Channel have been "very rare" for the Balshaw children, largely restricted to Christmas family gatherings.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

The media regulator Ofcom has also launched an official investigation into the hit Channel 4 show.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

I hear the reporter from Channel 8 say into a camera.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

A local TV station would start showing “Seinfeld” reruns, and it would outperform all other channels in the same timeslot…even when pitted against live and first-run shows!

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

South Korea proposed on Friday military talks with North Korea to "mutually confirm the precise location" of their border and discuss restoring communication channels, after an explosion in the DMZ further strained relations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

Products sold outside regulated medical channels may differ from the genuine experimental medication in their ingredients, purity, and dosage.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

"We also have dedicated channels for employees to safely raise any concerns - ranging from business ethics to misconduct - and have strict workplace policies in place to prevent retaliation of any kind."

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

To reach Australia/New Guinea from the Asian mainland at that time still required crossing a minimum of eight channels, the broadest of which was at least 50 miles wide.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Since her diagnosis, Applegate has spoken openly about her symptoms — including depression and “intense pain” — and channeled her experiences with the condition in a memoir, “You With the Sad Eyes.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

It was so much energy getting channeled into one big opting-out.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

When he sat down to write "Insidious: Out of the Further," the sixth installement of the blockbuster horror franchise, director Jacob Chase channeled his fears over a major life event: becoming a parent.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Her disincentive is channeled directly into her $25 million paycheck, which obviously isn’t awarded for accurate reporting and analysis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Religious feelings and faith were channeled through ritual.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

The "polka dot queen" channelled hallucinations and battles with mental health into vibrant art featuring her trademark dots, nets and infinity motifs over a career spanning decades and continents.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

The money had instead been channelled to new property developments, resulting in hundreds of unfinished projects.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

In between, she channelled the energy of the Tartan Army from the World Cup by leading the crowd in a a chant of "No Scotland No Party".

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Anger at the exam mishandling has been channelled by the newly-founded satirical "Cockroach People's Party", which has won millions of followers on social media since its launch in May.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

The fear in her voice channelled perfectly with the charmspeak.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Friedman was, as usual, channeling mainstream foreign policy dogma, which briefly held that constructive change might emerge from the chaotic aftermath of the Oct.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Part of Russia’s success in channeling goods through the Maldives stems from its economic ties with the islands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

A few years later, she was a regular on a soap opera, channeling her darkest fears into tears that would have adults heaping praise upon her.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

The teenager behind the kit is locked into “Driven to Tears,” the Police’s reggae-charged protest song, channeling its sharp, syncopated beats with controlled fury.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

A weird funnel device was attached to the forges chimney, trapping the smoke and heat and channeling it through a pipe into the floor, next to a big bronze manhole cover.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

Critics argue that it disadvantages Wales and the English regions by channelling investment to the south east of England.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

He has staked his leadership on aggressive reforms that aim to deliver double-digit growth, slashing bureaucratic red tape, empowering the private sector and channelling vast resources into mega-projects.

From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026

Founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, she campaigned against seal hunting and animal testing, channelling her passion into advocacy.

From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025

The claimant repeated the phrase multiple times, with tribunal Judge Vincent Ryan accepting that he was "effectively channelling the musical vibe".

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025

But when I write these letters to you, I feel as if I’m channelling the strength that you gave to me the day you broke your own heart to save our lives.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

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Related Words

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