noun Uncommon

trenches

TREHNT-shihz

Trenches (noun) means the front line of a difficult or demanding activity, especially where the hardest, least glamorous work happens. Example: “After years in the trenches of retail management, she finally got promoted to head office.”

noun

The front line of a difficult or demanding activity, especially where the hardest, least glamorous work happens.

"After years in the trenches of retail management, she finally got promoted to head office."

How to use trenches

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed figuratively for the toughest, most hands-on part of a job or struggle — "down in the trenches" means doing the hard, unglamorous work.

Common pairings

in the trenches down in the trenches

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After years in the _____ of retail management, she finally got promoted to head office.

Frequently asked questions

What does “trenches” mean?

The word “trenches” means the front line of a difficult or demanding activity, especially where the hardest, least glamorous work happens. In plain terms, used figuratively for the toughest, most hands-on part of a job or struggle — "down in the trenches" means doing the hard, unglamorous work.

How do you pronounce “trenches”?

“Trenches” is pronounced TREHNT-shihz (/ˈtɹɛnt͡ʃɪz/ in IPA).

How do you use “trenches” in a sentence?

Here is “trenches” used in a sentence: “After years in the trenches of retail management, she finally got promoted to head office.”

What part of speech is “trenches”?

“Trenches” is a noun.

Is “trenches” a common word?

“Trenches” is an uncommon word in modern English.