Funnel: meaning, definitions and examples

Use in situations where you need to pour liquids or small particles into a container with a small opening.

• She used a funnel to pour the oil into the engine.
• Pouring grains into the bottle is easier with a funnel.

Use for a sloping channel or slide for conveying things to a lower level.

• He went down the laundry chute to the basement.
• The workers used a chute to send the debris down from the roof.

Use to describe a long, hollow cylinder used to convey or hold materials, often used for more solid substances or gases.

• She squeezed the toothpaste out of the tube.
• The scientist used a tube to pass the gas through the experiment.

Use to refer to a medium for communication or the route along which information or goods are transmitted.

• The company uses multiple channels to reach its customers, including social media and email.
• They dug a channel to divert the river's flow.

Use when referring to a narrowing approach to filter or direct the flow from a wider top to a narrower bottom, often used in sales and marketing.

• Our sales funnel helps capture and qualify leads before they reach the sales team.
• We need to create more engaging content at the top of the funnel to attract potential customers.

Ideal for describing a structured process or series of stages, especially in business or project management, to achieve a goal.

• Our project pipeline includes several stages from initiation to completion.
• We have a strong sales pipeline for the coming quarter.

General term for a series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular end.

• The hiring process includes several rounds of interviews.
• We need to streamline our process for handling customer complaints.

Best suited when referring to a complex or organized set of things working together as components of a larger entity.

• Our new CRM system helps us manage customer relationships more effectively.
• The education system needs reforms to meet current needs.

Used when talking about directing the flow of liquids or, metaphorically, directing a concentrated flow of information, people, or resources into a specific path.

• I used a funnel to pour the oil into the engine.
• They funneled all the donations through one central charity.

Best for describing the act of directing energy, emotions, or water/communication along a specific path. Often implies continuous or controlled flow.

• She channeled her anger into her workout.
• The river was channeled to prevent flooding.

Appropriate for describing the act of giving explicit instructions or showing someone the way. It can also mean controlling the course of events or taking someone from one point to another with clear guidance.

• He directed us to the nearest exit.
• The manager directed the project from start to finish.

Used when offering advice, showing the way, or helping someone understand something. It implies a gentle or supportive approach.

• The tour guide showed us around the museum.
• Teachers are there to guide students through their learning process.