funnel

American  

[fuhn-l] / ˈfʌn l /

noun

1. a cone-shaped utensil with a tube at the apex for conducting liquid or other substance through a small opening, as into a bottle, jug, or the like.

2. a smokestack, especially of a steamship.

3. a flue, tube, or shaft, as for ventilation.

4. Eastern New England. a stovepipe.

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verb (used with object)

funneled, funneling, funnelled, funnelling

1. to concentrate, channel, or focus.

   They funneled all income into research projects.

2. to pour through or as if through a funnel.

verb (used without object)

funneled, funneling, funnelled, funnelling

1. to pass through or as if through a funnel.

funnel British  

/ ˈfʌnəl /

noun

1. a hollow utensil with a wide mouth tapering to a small hole, used for pouring liquids, powders, etc, into a narrow-necked vessel

2. something resembling this in shape or function

3. a smokestack for smoke and exhaust gases, as on a steamship or steam locomotive

4. a shaft or tube, as in a building, for ventilation

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verb

1. to move or cause to move or pour through or as if through a funnel

2. to concentrate or focus or be concentrated or focused in a particular direction

   they funnelled their attention on the problem

3. (intr) to take on a funnel-like shape

Other Word Forms

• funnel-like adjective
• funnellike adjective

Etymology

Origin of funnel

1375–1425; late Middle English fonel < Old Provençal fonilh ( Gascon ) < Vulgar Latin *fundibulum, for Latin infundibulum, derivative of infundere to pour in

Example Sentences

Researchers focused on identifying the exact position of Saturn's cusp -- a region where magnetic field lines bend back toward the poles and allow charged particles to funnel into the atmosphere.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Newman called the Neo a “strategic on-ramp product” that can “expand the funnel of users who can then be monetized through Apple’s higher-margin services platform.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The plan was to funnel the ball to one of Duke’s worst foul-shooters and hack him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Scientists are interested in these areas of deep water and steep mountains because they can funnel nutrient-rich water up to the surface, providing feeding grounds for animals or as fishing spots.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

Jessie carefully positioned the water bottle in the wire cage, aimed the spout into the base of the funnel, then unscrewed the bottle cap.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

Related Words

• channel
• filter
• pour
• siphon
• transmit