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“Threw” or “Through” or “Thru”

threw / through / thru are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

threw th·r·UW

  • verbpropel through the air.
  • verbmove violently, energetically, or carelessly.
  • verbplace or put with great energy.
  • verbcause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation.
  • verbto put into a state or activity hastily, suddenly, or carelessly.
  • verbmake on a potter's wheel.
  • verbcause to fall off.
  • verbthrow (a die) out onto a flat surface.

through th·r·UW

  • adjective(of a route or journey etc.) continuing without requiring stops or changes.
  • adverbfrom beginning to end.
  • adverbover the whole distance.
  • adverbto completion.
  • adverbin diameter.
  • adverbthroughout the entire extent.

thru th·r·UW

No dictionary entry for this spelling — see the usage examples below for how it shows up in writing.

Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“threw”

  • This time, Wight threw Austin into the cage with…
  • …160 lb., Rehg batted and threw right-handed.
  • …back into the ring and threw the steel steps on him…
  • …197 lb., Jones batted and threw right-handed.
  • …steps in but when he threw them at Rock, he was…
  • …outfielder, Bell batted right-handed and threw left-handed.
  • …"Ike" buttons and leaflets, and threw parties to build support for…
  • …round and his corner subsequently threw the towel in.
  • He batted and threw right-handed.
  • Again, he threw about 170 innings.

“through”

  • …to take up the drive through an increase of the bite…
  • From 1899 through 2015, the firm was known…
  • …the engine is now going through the second shaft), thus completing…
  • Darroti's family follows him through the glowing doorway that leads…
  • No loss of torque through the transmission from the engine…
  • Through Jerry, the family discovers that…
  • …Al Anbar Province from 2004 through the end of their last…
  • Through its earnings from licensing agreements,…
  • …he finds out about menstruation through a female doctor at a…
  • …1936 Dominick & Dominick expanded through acquisition, merging with A. Iselin…

“thru”

  • Adventure Thru Inner Space, a former attraction…
  • Stronger Thru the Years at AllMusic
  • …work with many name musicians thru out the 70's and 80's,…
  • Stronger Thru the Years is a compilation…
  • …regular season crown from 2001 thru 2003 and a second NCAA…
  • …"Paradise" from the movie Dancin' thru the Dark.
  • Accept my bet thru a reporter.
  • …during its inception by RMN (thru UHF Channel 31; now acquired…
  • …ancestry of the true Yehudim thru the legendary 4th Messiah Shlomo…
  • Stronger Thru the Years

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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