click through: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2 (Common in digital/online contexts)Neutral to formal in technical/business contexts; informal in general use.
Quick answer
What does “click through” mean?
To perform an action by clicking an electronic link (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To perform an action by clicking an electronic link (e.g., on a website or in an email) that leads to another page or piece of content.
More broadly, the act of engaging with a digital prompt or advertisement by following its link; also used as a noun to describe the rate at which such actions occur (click-through rate).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling conventions may apply to derived forms (e.g., 'clickthrough' as one word is less common in UK).
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Slightly more commercial/marketing connotation in American usage due to prevalence of online advertising discourse.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties within digital contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “click through” in a Sentence
[User] clicks through [to destination][User] clicks through [link/advertisement]The click-through rate is [number]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “click through” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Please click through to our terms and conditions.
- Very few users clicked through the initial pop-up advert.
American English
- Click through to complete your registration.
- We tracked how many customers clicked through from the email.
adjective
British English
- The click-through rate needs improvement.
- We analysed the click-through data.
American English
- The ad had a high click-through percentage.
- Our click-through metrics are solid.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Key metric in digital marketing (click-through rate or CTR).
Academic
Used in studies of user behaviour, human-computer interaction.
Everyday
Talking about using websites or emails ("Click through to read the full article").
Technical
Web development, analytics, online advertising platforms.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “click through”
- Using 'click on through' (redundant).
- Using 'click' alone when the navigation result is key.
- Misspelling as 'clic-through' or 'clickthru' (non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a verb, it is two words ('click through'). As a noun or adjective, it is often hyphenated ('click-through rate').
Yes, in modern usage it applies to any action (tap, click, press) that activates a hyperlink.
'Click' is the physical action. 'Click through' adds the concept of navigation to a new location/destination as a result of that click.
It is seen, especially in technical writing, but the hyphenated form 'click-through' is more standard for noun/adjective uses.
To perform an action by clicking an electronic link (e.
Click through is usually neutral to formal in technical/business contexts; informal in general use. in register.
Click through: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɪk ˈθruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklɪk ˈθruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Click through to the next page”
- “A low click-through rate”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a mouse CLICKing on a portal to go THROUGH to another world (webpage).
Conceptual Metaphor
NAVIGATION IS PHYSICAL TRAVEL (clicking is the vehicle, 'through' is the path).
Practice
Quiz
In digital marketing, what does 'CTR' stand for?