1
a
: a long cut in the ground : ditch
especially
: one used for military defense often with the excavated dirt thrown up in front
b
trenches plural
: a place, position, or level at which an activity is carried on in a manner likened to trench warfare
—often used in the phrase in the trenches
activists working in the trenches
2
: a long, narrow, and usually steep-sided depression in the ocean floor compare trough
3
trenched; trenching; trenches
1
: to make a cut in : carve
2
a
: to protect with or as if with a trench
b
: to cut a trench in : ditch
1
2
: to dig a trench
Synonyms
Examples of trench in a Sentence
Noun
dug a trench and filled it with water in an attempt to keep the forest fire off her property
Verb
that response trenches on outright rudeness
Recent Examples on the Web
David Axe, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Re-signing Austin Corbett and Cade Mays to compete at center is a logical, cost-effective strategy that seems to align with the way the Panthers will approach their already expensive trench group.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2025
Katherine Latham, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
This cake type was the sort fed to train and trench weary doughboys by Great War doughnut lassies (or doughnut dollies, depending) and flour, baking powder, sugar, and lard were all in good supply for the duration.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trench 
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Noun
Ukrainian drones observed some Russians advancing as far as a key trench anchoring Ukrainian positions just east of Leonidovo in the no-man’s-land along the 250-square-mile salient Ukrainian troops occupy in Kursk.
—David Axe, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Re-signing Austin Corbett and Cade Mays to compete at center is a logical, cost-effective strategy that seems to align with the way the Panthers will approach their already expensive trench group.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
In severe winter regions, for example, delays in permitting or routing could push a project into a freeze period when trenching or boring becomes impossible.
—Katherine Latham, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
This cake type was the sort fed to train and trench weary doughboys by Great War doughnut lassies (or doughnut dollies, depending) and flour, baking powder, sugar, and lard were all in good supply for the duration.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trench
Dictionary Entries Near trench
Cite this Entry
“Trench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trench. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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