towel

1 of 4

noun (1)

tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce towel (audio)
Synonyms of towelnext
: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying
see also:
throw in the towel

towel

2 of 4

verb

toweled or towelled; toweling or towelling

transitive verb

: to rub or dry (something, such as the body) with a towel

intransitive verb

: to use a towel to dry oneself
toweled down after swimming

toweling

3 of 4

noun (2)

tow·​el·​ing ˈtau̇-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce toweling (audio)
variants or towelling
: a cotton or linen fabric often used for making towels

toweling

4 of 4

present participle of towel entry 2

Examples of towel in a Sentence

Noun (1) She dried her hair with a towel. Here's a towel to wipe up the spill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
With 33 seconds left in Round 9, Itauma’s trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel, leaving Hrgović to celebrate making history. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Plus, a crochet beach bag is perfect for bringing your towel and other essentials to the beach. — Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
The latest thirst trap leaves little to the imagination, as Stamos poses in front of a bathroom mirror sans towel. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026 Or go to one of the many unblemished simple beaches, towel in hand and swim and sunbathe old-school—sans expensive sun beds and bottle service. — Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
Long overlooked, toweling has really grown into a burgeoning contemporary category. — Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 6 May 2026 The capsule collection of men’s beach, resort and swimwear includes shirts, shorts, swim shorts and accessories in Italian linen, silk and toweling. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for towel

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English towaille, from Anglo-French tuaille, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German dwahila towel; akin to Old High German dwahan to wash

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1839, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

1583, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of towel was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing towel

Rhymes for towel

See All Rhymes for towel

Browse Nearby Words

to weather
towel
towel bar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Towel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/towel. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

towel

1 of 2 noun
tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce towel (audio)
: a cloth or piece of absorbent paper for wiping or drying

towel

2 of 2 verb
toweled or towelled; toweling or towelling
: to rub or dry with a towel : use a towel to dry off

Medical Definition

towel

noun
tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce towel (audio)
1
: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying
2
British : sanitary napkin

More from Merriam-Webster on towel

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for towel

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