to penetrate into or run through (something), as a sharp, pointed dagger, object, or instrument does.
to make a hole or opening in.
to bore into or through; tunnel.
to perforate.
to make (a hole, opening, etc.) by or as by boring or perforating.
to make a way or path into or through.
a road that pierces the dense jungle.
to penetrate with the eye or mind; see into or through.
She couldn't pierce his thoughts.
to affect sharply with some sensation or emotion, as of cold, pain, or grief.
The wind pierced her body. Her words pierced our hearts.
to sound sharply through (the air, stillness, etc.).
A pistol shot pierced the night.
Franklin, 1804–69, 14th president of the U.S. 1853–57.
John Robinson, 1910–2002, U.S. electrical engineer: helped develop communications satellites.
a male given name, form of Peter.
to form or cut (a hole) in (something) with or as if with a sharp instrument
to thrust into or penetrate sharply or violently
the thorn pierced his heel
to force (a way, route, etc) through (something)
(of light) to shine through or penetrate (darkness)
(also intr) to discover or realize (something) suddenly or (of an idea) to become suddenly apparent
(of sounds or cries) to sound sharply through (the silence)
to move or affect (a person's emotions, bodily feelings, etc) deeply or sharply
the cold pierced their bones
(intr) to penetrate or be capable of penetrating
piercing cold
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.
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.
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
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Instead it helps bring home the horror movie’s big theme about the transcendence of art for oppressed people, including “music so true it can pierce the veil between life and death.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025
Before that, I gently pierce its skin with a knife, just enough to release the precious fat after it liquefies.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2025
“They let my sister pierce her ear a million times.”
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
Both Mildred Pierce and Emma Harte build their wealth by remaining clear-eyed as to what men can do for them financially as opposed to romantically.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
For the San Fernando Valley, the best World Cup options are the North Hollywood Station for the eastside of the Valley and Pierce College Metro Station for the westside of the Valley.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
So loyal is the teenager to Martinez that she jokingly aimed a dig at Mary Pierce - who beat the Spaniard in the 2000 Paris final - as she presented Andreeva with the trophy.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
After his run playing surgeon Hawkeye Pierce on “M*A*S*H,” Alda eventually shifted his focus from acting to science.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
“Son,” he said, “it ’pears to me like if thet dang Pierce ever sees the road agin, it’s a-go’n have to be you at the wheel.”
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
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
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
When gold pierces through supply growth by 50%-plus — compared with gold-mining output up around 1% — something is being questioned.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2025
When a person pierces the veil — when a face becomes familiar, or a name repeats itself — it doesn’t necessarily feel comforting.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2025
The ring of the telephone pierces the air, making me jump.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
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
“Her heart was pierced because of what she would see,” Wille said, in what struck me as a moment of restrained insight.
From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2026
He told the jury he learned the injury had pierced her skin and became "concerned the diagnosis may be rabies".
From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026
“She’s just getting her ears pierced. Don’t people have pierced ears where you’re from?”
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Mr. Simms is a writer of piercing insight and concision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
It is also worth noting that the prior major low near the $500 area was accompanied by back-to-back bullish piercing line candles last April, reinforcing the importance of that support zone.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
That disposition lurks behind his piercing hazel-green eyes, which seem to absorb every detail of the small coffeeshop and our fellow patrons, and it’s at the heart of how he moves through the world.
From Salon ● May 15, 2026
Known for its colourful shop fronts and racks of jewellery, bracelets and its ear piercing services, the brand's bright purple branding is a familiar sight for millions of teens during a Saturday shop.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026
Her last words ripped out of her in a wail, plaintive and piercing.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
