manhole

noun

man·​hole ˈman-ˌhōl How to pronounce manhole (audio)
: a hole through which one may go especially to gain access to an underground or enclosed structure

Examples of manhole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tim Kingsland, sanitary/stormwater district coordinator, said workers will inventory all the city’s stormwater infrastructure including manholes, pipes, ponds and swales. Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025 Residents filed the lawsuit a day before Detroit's Historic District Commission voted to proceed with a revised version of the project, which includes using cast iron manhole covers instead of steam vent stacks. Dana Afana, Freep.com, 12 July 2025 Mayor Herman White has also spent the past three years on the front lines advocating for funding to start replacing over 30 miles of sewer lines, 300 manholes and 17 lift stations. Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2025 The 12-turn, 2.2-mile track is narrow and bumpy in spots — to go along with manhole covers and transitions from concrete to asphalt and back — and there is little room for error in some areas. Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for manhole

Word History

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of manhole was in 1769

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Manhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manhole. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

manhole

noun
man·​hole ˈman-ˌhōl How to pronounce manhole (audio)
: a covered hole (as in a pavement, tank, or boiler) through which a worker may go

More from Merriam-Webster on manhole

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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