B2noun2K

Tunnel

UK /["/ˈtʌnl/"]/US /["/ˈtʌnl/"]/

Definition

a passage built underground, for example to allow a road or railway to go through a hill, under a river, etc.

In simple words: A long, underground passage that people or vehicles can go through.

Examples

  • The tunnel under the city was built in the early 1900s.
  • They passed through the dark tunnel, hearing echoes of their footsteps.
  • Construction workers are digging a new tunnel to improve transportation.
  • The train travels through the mountain tunnel in just a few minutes.
  • A tunnel connects the two sides of the river, making it easier for pedestrians.

Usage notes

Used in both everyday and technical contexts. Appropriate when discussing transportation, construction, or geology. Avoid using it metaphorically unless context allows.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Imagine a 'tunnel' like 'tunneling' through the ground with a big drill.

Collocations

  • long
  • short
  • narrow
  • go through
  • use
  • disappear into
  • run
  • lead
  • connect
  • entrance
  • floor
  • mouth
  • through a/​the tunnel
  • a labyrinth of tunnels
  • a maze of tunnels
  • a network of tunnels
  • long
  • short
  • narrow
  • go through
  • use
  • disappear into
  • run
  • lead
  • connect
  • entrance
  • floor
  • mouth
  • through a/​the tunnel
  • a labyrinth of tunnels
  • a maze of tunnels
  • a network of tunnels

Synonyms

  • passage
  • duct
  • gallery
  • corridor
  • tube

Antonyms

  • hill
  • mountain

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'barrow' (a type of passage in mining).
  • Mispronounced, often forgetting the 'n' sound.
  • Using 'tunnel' in contexts that only apply to surface-level structures.