throughout

throo-OWT/θɹuːˈaʊt/

6 meanings of throughout

1
all over a placepreposition
Used before a place, area, or object to mean in or through every part of it.
Protests erupted throughout the country in the weeks before the election.
By the time doctors found the tumor, the disease had spread throughout her body.
UsagePut the place right after it, with no of: throughout the country, spread throughout the body.
Similaracross
Note
It describes something present or spreading in every part of a place or group, as when Hume imagines philosophy diffusing itself throughout the whole society.
2
during allpreposition
Used before a period of time or an event to mean during the whole of it, from start to finish.
Ticket prices stayed the same throughout the season, even for the playoff games.
He kept his phone switched off throughout the meeting and missed three calls.
UsageName the time right after it: throughout the night. It emphasizes the whole period; during can refer to all or part of it.
Similarthrough, during
3
adverb
Used on its own, about a thing already mentioned, to mean in or to every part of it; everywhere within it.
The apartment has hardwood flooring throughout.
The report was clearly organized and well written throughout.
UsageUsually at the end of the clause: hardwood floors throughout. Add except for to leave some parts out.
Similareverywhere
4
adverb
Used on its own, about a time or event already mentioned, to mean for the whole of it, from beginning to end.
The lecture was dull, but he took careful notes throughout.
Negotiations grew tense, yet both sides stayed polite throughout.
UsageUsually closes the clause: stayed calm throughout. It can also come first, followed by a comma.
Similarcontinuously, constantly

Less common meanings

5
prepositionobsolete
Completely through something; right the way through from one end or surface to the other.
His barnisht blad throughout his body share,
1756, William Hamilton, A New Edition of the Life and Heroick Actions of the renoun'd Sir William Wallace
The dedlye sworde throughout my brest to stryke I will applye.
1561, John Heywood, Seneca's Hercules Furens
Note
Here the movement is a spear's or a blade's, entering one side and leaving by the other. In Lord Berners's translation of Arthur of Little Britain, printed about 1560, a spear goes "clene thrughout hys body", and Thomas Warton still writes of a sword gliding throughout a heart in 1778. Modern English says through or right through for this. Written today, the preposition would read as an archaism, or as a slip for the "every part" meaning.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
Lord Berners translated Arthur of Little Britain. arlima.net
The early printing is dated approximately 1560. arlima.net
The text describes a spear passing through a body using the quoted wording. en.wiktionary.org
Thomas Warton describes a sword gliding throughout a heart. digital.ub.uni-paderborn.de
Warton's passage appeared in 1778, in the additions accompanying the second volume of his History of English Poetry. digital.ub.uni-paderborn.de
6
adverb
Of a heraldic ordinary such as a pile or chevron: extending to the edge of the field rather than stopping short within it.

Practice

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Origin

Old English had it as two words, þurh ūt, that is 'through' plus 'out'; German durchaus ('all the way, fully, absolutely') is a parallel.