Word
thru
US/ˈθɹu/
UK/θɹˈuː/
Definitions
02up to and including
prep. used to show a range of time, meaning from the start until the end of a period.
prep. denoting a range of time or a sequence, equivalent to 'up to and including'.
“The shop is open Monday thru Friday from nine to five.”
“The exhibition will be hosted at the gallery from May thru August, featuring rotating installations from local artists.”
American English · Informal
Usage
Commonly used in American English to indicate inclusive dates or times.
Teaching tip
In British English, 'to' or 'until' is preferred for ranges; 'thru' in this context is a distinct Americanism.
03driving without stopping
adj. describes a road or lane that goes all the way to the end without stopping.
adj. describing a route or lane that allows for continuous travel to a destination without requiring a turn or exit.
“Stay in the left lane for thru traffic if you aren't turning here.”
“The city planners designated the central lanes for thru traffic to reduce congestion caused by vehicles entering the shopping district.”
American English · Informal
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before the noun 'traffic'.
Teaching tip
This is the most common place a learner will see this spelling in the real world, specifically on American highway signage.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Modern use originated in American English as a phonetic and simplified spelling of through around 1839. The spelling had previously been one of several used in Middle English.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/thru