verb
tow
toh
verb
1
To pull a vehicle or object behind another using a rope, chain, or line.
"The truck towed the broken-down car to the garage."
noun
1
The act of towing, or a vehicle being towed.
"The boat needed a tow back to the harbor."
How to Use Tow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pull something along behind a vehicle or boat.
Common mistake
Don't confuse tow with toe (the digit on your foot) — they sound alike but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tow truck
in tow
tow away
Word Forms
towed past tense, tows plural, tows plural, Tows plural, tows singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tow”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The truck _____ the broken-down car to the garage.
Etymology
From Old English togian, related to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to pull," shared with words like "tug" and "team."