1
a
: a utensil that is usually a hollow cone with a tube extending from the smaller end and that is designed to catch and direct a downward flow
b
: something shaped like a funnel
2
: a stack or flue for the escape of smoke or for ventilation (as on a ship)
funneled also funnelled; funneling also funnelling
1
: to have or take the shape of a funnel
2
: to pass through or as if through a funnel or conduit
the crowd funnels through the doors
1
: to form in the shape of a funnel
funneled his hands and shouted through them
2
: to move to a focal point or into a conduit or central channel
contributions were funneled into one account
Examples of funnel in a Sentence
Noun
the funnel cloud of a tornado
Verb
Winds funneled through the canyon.
Smoke funneled up the chimney.
The crowd funneled through the doors.
He funneled the gas into the tank.
They funneled money into the campaign.
The information was being secretly funneled to the head of the organization.
Recent Examples on the Web
Isabelle Taft, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line The ship’s top-tier, 2,000-square-foot suite, a two-story affair built into the ship’s forward funnel—available to those willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a weeklong cruise—is based entirely on Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.
—Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025
Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025
The school recruited an all-star high school basketball team, founded a children’s choir program that funneled into West’s popular Sunday Services, and developed a forward-thinking curriculum that included parkour classes.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for funnel
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Noun
Traffic on the bridge was temporarily stopped while the tops of the ship’s towering funnels passed less than 10 feet beneath the roadway.
—Isabelle Taft, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line The ship’s top-tier, 2,000-square-foot suite, a two-story affair built into the ship’s forward funnel—available to those willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a weeklong cruise—is based entirely on Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.
—Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
The European leaders push to bolster regional defense capabilities comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is pressuring European NATO allies to funnel more money into security spending, while uncertainty persists over how much support Ukraine can expect from the new White House administration.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025
The school recruited an all-star high school basketball team, founded a children’s choir program that funneled into West’s popular Sunday Services, and developed a forward-thinking curriculum that included parkour classes.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for funnel
Cite this Entry
“Funnel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funnel. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
funnel
1 of 2 noun
fun·nel
ˈfən-ᵊl 
1
: a utensil usually shaped like a hollow cone with a tube extending from the point and used to catch and direct a downward flow (as of liquid)
2
: something shaped like a funnel
the funnel cloud of a tornado
3
: a large pipe for the escape of smoke or for ventilation (as on a ship)
funnel
2 of 2 verb
funneled also funnelled; funneling also funnelling
: to move or cause to move to a central point or into a central channel
Medical Definition
funnel
noun
fun·nel
ˈfən-ᵊl
: a utensil that is usually a hollow cone with a tube extending from the smaller end and that is designed to catch and direct a downward flow see büchner funnel
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