pierce: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal; occasionally literary/poetic.
Quick answer
What does “pierce” mean?
To make a hole in or through something using a sharp, pointed object.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make a hole in or through something using a sharp, pointed object.
To penetrate or affect deeply, as a sharp sensation, sound, light, or insight; to succeed in entering or passing through a barrier.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or grammar. The adjective/noun 'pierced' (as in body art) is equally common.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in crime/medical contexts (e.g., 'pierced with a knife'), but the difference is minimal.
Grammar
How to Use “pierce” in a Sentence
[SUBJ] pierce [OBJ] (with [INSTRUMENT])[OBJ] be pierced by [SUBJ][SUBJ] pierce through/into [OBJ]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pierce” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The thorn pierced his thumb.
- Her scream pierced the quiet night.
- They decided to pierce her nose at the clinic.
American English
- The needle pierced the fabric cleanly.
- Laser light can pierce the atmosphere.
- He got his ears pierced at the mall.
adverb
British English
- She looked at him piercingly.
- The cold was piercingly intense.
American English
- He stared piercingly into the camera.
- The critique was piercingly accurate.
adjective
British English
- She gave him a piercing stare.
- The piercing wind came off the moors.
American English
- He has piercing blue eyes.
- A piercing shriek echoed in the hall.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used metaphorically ('pierce the corporate veil', a legal concept).
Academic
Used in literary analysis ('the imagery pierces the reader's conscience'), medical texts, and physics (light/sound).
Everyday
Common for body piercing, describing sudden sensations (cold, sound, pain), or literal puncture.
Technical
Medical/surgical procedures, ballistics, materials science.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pierce”
- Using 'pierce' for a blunt force impact (incorrect: *The car pierced the wall*). Confusing with 'peel' or 'peek'. Incorrect preposition: *pierce in* instead of *pierce through/into*.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. It implies a focused point. However, it can be used for intense sensations (cold, sound, light) that feel similarly sharp and penetrating.
'Pierce' is general for making a hole with a point. 'Stab' implies a violent, often criminal, thrust with a weapon. 'Puncture' often describes an accidental hole, especially in something containing air/liquid (a tyre).
Yes, commonly. E.g., 'pierced by grief' or 'a piercing remark' means something that causes sudden, sharp emotional pain or keen insight.
Indirectly. The adjective describes a sharp, penetrating quality (eyes, sound). The gerund 'piercing' is the activity, and 'pierced' is the result (pierced ears).
To make a hole in or through something using a sharp, pointed object.
Pierce is usually neutral to formal; occasionally literary/poetic. in register.
Pierce: in British English it is pronounced /pɪəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /pɪrs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pierce the veil (of secrecy/corporate structure)”
- “a piercing look/glance”
- “pierce someone's heart (emotionally)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a sharp PIER (a structure) with a C (like a needle) at the end that can stab and go through something.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING/UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING/PERCEIVING THROUGH A BARRIER ('His insight pierced the mystery'). EMOTIONAL PAIN IS PHYSICAL PENETRATION ('Her words pierced my heart').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'pierce' used metaphorically?