Meanings
- usuallyPulled by means of an attached line, such as a cable, chain, or rope.
"Do you remember the ship? . . . I mean the dismasted eighty-four that was in tow of the frigate."
1842, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 13, in The Wing and Wing2 more examples
Far down the field a C-47 cargo plane with two loaded gliders in tow began to move slowly up the runway.
1944 December 10, “Freight Carriers, Gliders and Hospital Planes Take Part in Preview of Air Borne Unit's Show”, in Milwaukee Journal, retrieved 09 Aug 2010, page 1Presently the wind nearly died out, and the galley and prizes then took the coasters and fishing craft in tow.
1896, G. A. Henty, chapter 15, in A Knight of the White Cross - figurativelyusuallyFollowing or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled.
"He's got a man from Cincinnati in tow, and they are going to dine at the Calumet Club."
1903, Frank Norris, chapter 2, in The Pit3 more examples
The House of Representatives hummed with excitement as Congressmen and Senators, many with their spouses and children in tow, awaited the man of the hour.
1987 October 5, “Central America: Speaking His Peace”, in TimeDoctor Blimber accompanied them; and Paul had the honour of being taken in tow by the Doctor himself.
1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, chapter 12, in Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLCThen with an impertinent presumption she came running out the front door with the maid moving in tow.
2005, William Mueller, Rome Revisited, →ISBN, page 10
Synonyms & antonyms
Translations
Hebrew נִגְרָר
- נִגְרָר (nigrār)(of a vehicle, conveyance, etc.) pulled by means of an attached line, such as a cable, chain, or rope
Hungarian vele, a nyomában
- vele(usually of persons) following or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled
- a nyomában(usually of persons) following or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled
- kíséretében(usually of persons) following or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled
- felügyelete alatt(usually of persons) following or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled
- irányítása alatt(usually of persons) following or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled
- rábízott(usually of persons) following or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled
- rábízva(usually of persons) following or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled
Russian на букси́ре
- на букси́ре (na buksíre)(of a vehicle, conveyance, etc.) pulled by means of an attached line, such as a cable, chain, or rope
Spanish a remolque
- a remolque(of a vehicle, conveyance, etc.) pulled by means of an attached line, such as a cable, chain, or rope
Swedish på släp, i släptåg
- på släp(of a vehicle, conveyance, etc.) pulled by means of an attached line, such as a cable, chain, or rope
- i släptåg(usually of persons) following or accompanying under the direction of another, as if attached by a line and being pulled
Cite this entry
in tow. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20tow
“in tow.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20tow. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in tow,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20tow.
Source: in tow on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.