Through vs Throughout

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Through

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 preposition

Throughout

Top 2,000 (common) B1

Most common: Through

	Through	Throughout
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/θruː/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/θruː/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/θruːˈaʊt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/θruːˈaʊt/"]/
Meaning	In one side and out the other.	In every part or all the time during a period.
Example	We walked through the park in the evening.	They export their products to markets throughout the world.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A1	B1
Part of speech	preposition
Collocations	go through, pass through, look through, see through, read through	throughout the year, throughout history, throughout the country, throughout the event
Antonyms	around, stopping	briefly, intermittently
Common mistakes	Confused with 'threw' (the past tense of throw)., Using 'through' instead of 'to' in directions., Saying 'pass through' when 'pass by' is more appropriate.	Using 'throughout' when 'through' or 'during' is more appropriate., Confusing 'throughout' with 'all through' which can sound informal., Omitting the noun that follows 'throughout' leading to incomplete sentences.
Usage notes	Use 'through' to indicate movement from one side to another. Common with tunnels, paths, and processes. Avoid using it for non-physical experiences.	Use 'throughout' to indicate that something happens or exists in every part of a time frame or area. It's appropriate for both written and spoken contexts, but avoid it in very casual communication where simpler alternatives are preferred.

See it in real clips

flathatting throughout swarms of German reinforcements

Top Gear › S1 E1

throughout the entire series. I think we've peaked.

Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive.

flathatting throughout swarms of German reinforcements

Top Gear › S1 E1

throughout the entire series. I think we've peaked.

Throughout

Frequently asked questions: Through vs Throughout

What's the difference between Through and Throughout?

Through: In one side and out the other. Throughout: In every part or all the time during a period.

Which is more common: Through and Throughout?

Through is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Through and Throughout?

Throughout is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Through and Throughout the same CEFR level?

Through: A1, Throughout: B1 on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

Through: We walked through the park in the evening. Throughout: They export their products to markets throughout the world.

Can I use Through and Throughout interchangeably?

Not always. Through and Throughout are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.