# thru

/ˈθɹu/ (US) · /θɹˈuː/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. up to and including

preposition · CEFR B1 · American English · Informal

used to show a range of time, meaning from the start until the end of a period.

For teachers: 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.

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.

### 3. driving without stopping

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

describes a road or lane that goes all the way to the end without stopping.

For teachers: 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.

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.

## Examples

- The store is open Monday thru Friday.
- The sign at the construction site warned that no traffic would be allowed thru the main gates after dark.
- While traditional style guides reject the spelling in formal essays, it appears frequently in commercial contexts, such as 'drive-thru' windows, where brevity and visual impact are prioritized over standard orthography.

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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.