manhole

American  

[man-hohl] / ˈmænˌhoʊl /

noun

• manholes
  plural

1. a hole, usually with a cover, through which a person may enter a sewer, drain, steam boiler, etc., especially one located in a city street.

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manhole British  

/ ˈmænˌhəʊl /

noun

1. Also called: inspection chamber.  a shaft with a removable cover that leads down to a sewer or drain

2. a hole, usually with a detachable cover, through which a man can enter a boiler, tank, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• manholes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of manhole

First recorded in 1785–95; man + hole

Explanation

A manhole is an opening in a street or sidewalk that gives workers access to underground pipes, drains, power lines, and cables. A manhole usually has a heavy metal cover — which can go shooting up in the air in the case of an underground explosion. Steer clear of smoking manholes! Inside a manhole, there are steps or a ladder leading down to the space underneath the street. Utility workers need access to this underground area to make repairs or updates to services. From above, a manhole simply looks like a metal circle in the pavement. The word manhole (which sounds a little dated, since plenty of utility workers are women) was coined in the late 18th century.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

manhole manholes

For the first time, the city has also got its own detachment of mounted police officers, workers have filled in the potholes and manhole covers have finally been laid flush with the surrounding pavement.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

Officers responded to an emergency call in Manhattan and found the woman unconscious and unresponsive down the manhole just before midnight on Monday.

From BBC ● May 20, 2026

“We are reviewing the details, and while this is a rare occurrence, manhole covers can get displaced by heavy vehicles. Our thoughts remain with her family, and safety remains our top priority,” the spokesperson said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

City crews placed a boulder over the manhole cover, a spokesperson who was at the scene Wednesday said but, by the following morning, the boulder had been moved.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

Still wearing his backpack, Ken pried open the manhole cover and slipped inside.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Open manholes are a common issue in the city.

From BBC ● May 20, 2026

An estimated 8 million gallons overflowed manholes and streamed into storm drains that empty into the Dominguez Channel, which terminates at Cabrillo Beach, Langpap said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2024

Rescuers cordoned off overflowing manholes, carried a child from a stranded vehicle and guided motorcyclists through the murky flows.

From Reuters ● Sep. 8, 2023

She tracked more than 1,700 manholes here that had been geotagged for their location.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 13, 2023

A blustery March wind whipped the steam coming out of the manholes, and people hurried along the sidewalks with their collars turned up.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls