throughout
Americanpreposition
-
in or to every part of; everywhere in.
They searched throughout the house.
-
from the beginning to the end of.
He was bored throughout the play.
adverb
-
in every part.
rotten throughout.
-
at every moment or point.
following the text closely throughout.
preposition
adverb
Etymology
Origin of throughout
First recorded before 1000; Middle English throw out, Old English thurh ūt “through and out the other side (of )”; see through, out
Explanation
Use the adverb throughout for things that keep going from beginning to end. If you mention your perfect grades several times throughout a conversation, your interviewer will know you're smart, but might also think you're kind of obnoxious. Throughout means "from start to finish," although it doesn't have to mean constantly from start to finish. Your brother might complain that you had to stop and pee throughout the entire road trip, but he doesn't mean you were literally doing it the whole time, just like every two hours. In academic writing, throughout, or sometimes passim ("throughout" in Latin) is a way of saying that an idea shows up all over a book, not just on a certain page.
Vocabulary lists containing throughout
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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"A Short History of the UDHR" and "Background on the UDHR"
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Louder than Hunger
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Between trips, some Waymo vehicles use publicly available parking spaces to avoid creating unnecessary traffic on roads while staying nearby potential passengers throughout the city.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The toughness of these larvae suggests that pressure alone may not fully explain why insects never established themselves throughout the ocean.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
"Family members were informed at the earliest opportunity, and the trust has provided ongoing support to families throughout this investigation."
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Additional updates throughout the home include refinished hardwood floors, fresh interior paint, new carpeting, and a remodeled guest bathroom,” the description noted.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
The rest of the team was watching the rally, which was being broadcast throughout the Olympus building.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
