C2nounformalacademicbusiness
US/trɔːf/
UK/trɒf/
the lowest point of a graph or cycle, before it starts to rise again
In context
The graph shows a peak in July and a trough in February.
The economy hit a trough in 2009 before slowly recovering.
Sales fall to a seasonal trough after the holidays.
Words that go with trough
noun + noun
- peaks and troughsThe chart shows the peaks and troughs in monthly sales.
verb + noun
- reach a troughUnemployment reached a trough in the spring.
- hit a troughPrices hit a trough before rising again.
adjective + noun
- deep troughThe deep trough in sales lasted through the whole winter.
- seasonal troughTicket sales hit a seasonal trough in January.