# pierce

/ˈpɪɹs/ (US) · /pˈiəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pierce
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to make a hole

verb · CEFR B2

to make a hole in something using a sharp point.

For teachers: to puncture or penetrate a surface using a sharp-pointed instrument.

- The needle pierced the fabric easily as she began to sew the button.
- The sharp thorns easily pierced the hiker's thin trousers, leaving several painful scratches on his legs.

### 2. for jewellery

verb · CEFR B2

to make a hole in a part of your body, like your ear, so you can wear jewellery.

For teachers: to create a permanent hole in the skin or cartilage for the purpose of inserting decorative jewellery.

- She decided to get her ears pierced for her eighteenth birthday.
- The studio maintains strict hygiene standards for clients who wish to have their cartilage pierced by professional technicians.

### 3. to go through light/sound

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to break through something, like a loud noise breaking the silence or light through the dark.

For teachers: to pass through or penetrate a medium, often used for light, sound, or cold air.

- A sudden scream pierced the quiet night and woke everyone up.
- A single beam of sunlight pierced the thick canopy of the forest, illuminating the mossy ground below.

### 4. to understand deeply

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to see or understand the truth of a difficult situation very quickly.

For teachers: to see through a disguise or to grasp the inner truth of a complex matter.

- She had a sharp mind and could pierce through any lie.
- The investigator's cold gaze seemed to pierce his facade, making it clear that his excuses were not being believed.

## Examples

- She decided to pierce her ears for her birthday.
- The chef used a small needle to pierce the skin of the duck before roasting it.
- A sudden, high-pitched whistle managed to pierce the heavy silence of the abandoned warehouse, causing the investigators to stop in their tracks.

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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.