1
a
: the bed where a natural stream of water runs
b
: the deeper part of a river, harbor, or strait
c
: a strait or narrow sea between two close landmasses
crossed the English Channel
d
: a means of communication or expression: such as
(1)
: a path along which information (such as data or music) in the form of an electrical signal passes
(2)
channels plural
: a fixed or official course of communication
went through established military channels with his grievances
e
: a way, course, or direction of thought or action
new channels of exploration
f
: a band of frequencies of sufficient width for a single radio or television communication
g
h
: an account on an online media sharing or streaming service from which one can make media content (such as videos) available to others using the service
The video was posted Saturday and has been viewed thousands of times since being picked up by YouTube channels devoted to UFOs and unsolved mysteries …—
Mark Price
Mark PriceThe Washington Post and Bloomberg covered the Russia-United States summit live on their Twitch channels.—Alexandra Arriaga
Alexandra Arriaga2
a
: a usually tubular enclosed passage : conduit
the poison channel in a snake's fangs
b
: a passage created in a selectively permeable cell membrane by a conformational change in membrane proteins
also
: the proteins of such a passage compare ion channel
3
: a long gutter, groove, or furrow
a road channel
4
: a metal bar of flattened U-shaped section
channeled or channelled; channeling or channelling
1
a
: to form, cut, or wear a channel in
The river channeled a new course.
b
: to make a groove in
channel a chair leg
2
: to convey or direct into or through a channel
channel his energy into useful work
3
: to serve as a channeler or intermediary for
a 35,000-year-old female channeled by a 40-year-old housewife
: one of the flat ledges of heavy plank or metal bolted edgewise to the outside of a ship to increase the spread of the shrouds (see shroud entry 1 sense 3a)
Synonyms
Examples of channel in a Sentence
Verb
She's started channeling her anger towards me.
He channeled millions of dollars into the program.
Recent Examples on the WebKatie Mettler, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
For in-depth video game talk, visit PCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel.
—Zackery Cuevas, PCMAG, 5 Apr. 2024
The smaller channel would stretch 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, less than half the width of the full channel.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Hardly any of the pundits in regular rotation on those channels would ever endorse Donald Trump for President, even though many of them identify as conservative.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
This is done by assisting clients in their go-to-market initiatives through channel distribution and digital transformation.
—Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
Oceanside’s northernmost beaches are replenished annually, usually in the spring, with sand dredged from the channel into the city’s harbor.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Construction on the north portion of the bypass channel is targeted to begin in late 2024 with the southern portion to start in 2025, Church said.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
Check your local listings to find the correct channel.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
So that’s why there’s so many drums out there on the CMTs stage — because Hubert (Payne, the group’s drummer) is channeling his inner Chester Thompson… with Akil sitting next to him.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
The layered, wavy effect dually fits the bill, channelling ripples in still water and the futuristic preservation efforts.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2024
More than 15 years earlier, Andrés had begun channeling his status as a celebrity chef into tireless work in the world’s most desperate places, hammered by disasters natural and man-made.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
At the restaurant, named for Cottrell’s 35-pound orange-and-white cat, the team is channeling a playful vibe with riffs on barbecue inspired by Cottrell’s time cooking in New Orleans.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
In 2018, Johnson set out to create something that channeled the spirit of her home and partnered with long-time friends Toby Tyler and Joe Elison to make Pin Drop Rum.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2024
The new campaign featuring the bride-to-be channeled the campiness of Las Vegas’ little white chapels.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Reba McEntire channeled her predecessor and fellow Okie, Blake Shelton, in a new behind-the-scenes look at some outtakes from The Voice.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
In a separate interview Sunday on MSNBC, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talked about a plan the Army Corps of Engineers released last week to open a 35-foot deep channel to the Port of Baltimore by the end of April.
—Katie Mettler, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
For in-depth video game talk, visit PCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel.
—Zackery Cuevas, PCMAG, 5 Apr. 2024
The smaller channel would stretch 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, less than half the width of the full channel.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Hardly any of the pundits in regular rotation on those channels would ever endorse Donald Trump for President, even though many of them identify as conservative.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
This is done by assisting clients in their go-to-market initiatives through channel distribution and digital transformation.
—Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
Oceanside’s northernmost beaches are replenished annually, usually in the spring, with sand dredged from the channel into the city’s harbor.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
Construction on the north portion of the bypass channel is targeted to begin in late 2024 with the southern portion to start in 2025, Church said.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024
Check your local listings to find the correct channel.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
The park’s Redwood Canopy Trail takes visitors up into the mid-canopy over aerial suspension bridges, with platforms from which to gaze out and channel your inner Swiss Family Robinson.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
So that’s why there’s so many drums out there on the CMTs stage — because Hubert (Payne, the group’s drummer) is channeling his inner Chester Thompson… with Akil sitting next to him.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
The layered, wavy effect dually fits the bill, channelling ripples in still water and the futuristic preservation efforts.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2024
More than 15 years earlier, Andrés had begun channeling his status as a celebrity chef into tireless work in the world’s most desperate places, hammered by disasters natural and man-made.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
At the restaurant, named for Cottrell’s 35-pound orange-and-white cat, the team is channeling a playful vibe with riffs on barbecue inspired by Cottrell’s time cooking in New Orleans.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
In 2018, Johnson set out to create something that channeled the spirit of her home and partnered with long-time friends Toby Tyler and Joe Elison to make Pin Drop Rum.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2024
The new campaign featuring the bride-to-be channeled the campiness of Las Vegas’ little white chapels.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Reba McEntire channeled her predecessor and fellow Okie, Blake Shelton, in a new behind-the-scenes look at some outtakes from The Voice.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'channel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near channel
Cite this Entry
“Channel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/channel. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
channel
1 of 2 noun
chan·nel
ˈchan-ᵊl 
1
: the bed of a stream
2
: the deeper part of a river, harbor, or strait
3
: a strait or a narrow sea between two close large areas of land
the English Channel
4
: a way of passing something along
negotiating through diplomatic channels
5
: a group of frequencies close enough in value for a single radio or television communication
6
: a closed passage through which something flows
7
: a long gutter, groove, or track
channel
2 of 2 verb
channeled or channelled; channeling or channelling
1
: to form a channel in
2
: to direct into or through a channel
Medical Definition
channel
noun
chan·nel
ˈchan-ᵊl
1
: a usually tubular enclosed passage
2
a
: a passage created in a selectively permeable membrane by a conformational change in membrane proteins see ion channel
b
: a protein or cluster of proteins that functions as a channel see calcium channel blocker
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