# tow

/ˈtoʊ/ (US) · /tˈəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tow
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to pull a vehicle

verb · CEFR B1

to pull a car, boat, or trailer behind another vehicle using a rope or chain.

For teachers: to pull a vehicle or vessel along by means of a rope, chain, or towbar. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- The truck had to tow our car to the garage after the engine broke down.
- The coast guard dispatched a heavy-duty cutter to tow the disabled freighter back to the safety of the harbor before the storm intensified.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice when a car is removed by authorities.

### 2. the act of pulling

noun · CEFR B2

the act of being pulled by another vehicle.

For teachers: the act of towing or the state of being towed, often used in the phrase 'in tow'.

- The broken-down van was taken away on a tow.
- The celebrity arrived at the gala with a massive security detail and several assistants in tow.

Usage: Commonly found in the prepositional phrase 'in tow'.

### 3. plant fibers

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

rough, coarse fibers from plants like flax or hemp used to make rope or cloth.

For teachers: the coarse and broken fibers of flax, hemp, or jute separated by hackling from the finer strands.

- The old rope was made from rough hemp tow.
- Historically, tow was utilized for caulking the seams of wooden ships to ensure they remained watertight during long voyages.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the material.

## Examples

- The truck had to tow my car to the garage.
- After the engine failed in the middle of the lake, a passing motorboat offered to tow us back to the dock.
- The local authorities are authorised to tow any vehicles parked in the emergency lane to ensure that fire engines have unobstructed access to the building during the renovation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.