# funnel

/ˈfənəɫ/ (US) · /fˈʌnəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/funnel
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. pouring tool

noun · CEFR B2

a tube with a wide, cone-shaped top used to pour liquids or powders into a container with a small opening.

For teachers: a utensil consisting of a hollow cone with a narrow pipe at the apex, used for channeling liquids or granular materials into containers with small openings.

- He used a plastic funnel to pour the oil into the car engine without spilling.
- The laboratory technician carefully positioned the glass funnel to ensure the chemical solution was transferred into the narrow-necked flask without loss.

### 2. ship's chimney

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a large pipe on a ship or steam engine that lets out smoke.

For teachers: a smoke flue or chimney, particularly the large vertical pipes on a steamship or locomotive.

- Thick black smoke rose from the ship's funnel as it left the harbour.
- The ocean liner featured four iconic funnels, though only three were functional while the fourth served as ventilation and aesthetic balance.

### 3. marketing process

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the process of finding new customers and leading them toward buying a product.

For teachers: a conceptual model representing the customer journey from initial awareness to final purchase or conversion.

- The marketing team is looking for ways to get more people into the sales funnel.
- By analyzing the conversion rate at each stage of the funnel, the company identified a significant drop-off during the initial registration phase.

### 4. to direct or channel

verb · CEFR B2

to move money, information, or resources into a specific place or toward a specific goal.

For teachers: to direct, channel, or focus resources, funds, or efforts into a specific area or through a particular medium.

- The charity funnels most of its donations directly to the local schools.
- The government was accused of funneling public funds into private infrastructure projects through a series of offshore accounts.

### 5. to move through a narrow space

verb · CEFR B2

to move through a narrow opening or passage in a large group.

For teachers: to proceed or be driven through a narrow gap or passageway; to narrow or condense in movement.

- The crowd began to funnel through the small gate at the end of the stadium.
- As the valley narrowed, the wind began to funnel between the cliffs, reaching much higher speeds than on the open plain.

## Examples

- Use a funnel to pour the oil into the bottle.
- The mechanic used a plastic funnel to ensure the engine coolant didn't spill onto the hot radiator.
- In digital marketing, the sales funnel represents the theoretical journey a customer takes from initial brand awareness through to the final purchase decision.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.