towel

noun

tow·el | \ ˈtau̇(-ə)l

Definition of towel

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying

towel

verb

toweled or towelled; toweling or towelling

Definition of towel (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Examples of towel in a Sentence

Noun

She dried her hair with a towel. Here's a towel to wipe up the spill.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Republicans, facing an electoral tsunami that year, basically threw in the towel and let Lieberman soak up conservative votes. — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, "Ned Lamont elected governor of Connecticut," 7 Nov. 2018 Watching on, the British public has largely thrown in the towel trying to keep track of the increasingly convoluted Brexit scenarios the country faces. — Max Colchester, WSJ, "In the U.K., Endless Brexit Squabbles Are Snarling Everything Else," 5 Nov. 2018 There are a number of captains who threw in the towel. — Fox News, "A year after Hurricane Irma, Florida Keys 'still a world of hurt'," 10 Sep. 2018 The two men then carried the bucket, wrapped in a towel, to the woman waiting with the stroller. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Shark Stolen From Aquarium, Returned Safe and Sound," 7 Aug. 2018 In the past, conservatives have thrown in the towelAs politicians and political scientists both know, the political sustainability of reforms can never be taken for granted. — Eric Patashnik, Washington Post, "Republicans are still trying to repeal Obamacare. Here’s why they are not likely to succeed," 13 June 2018 Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, place on a sheet pan, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "What’s on the Menu at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards Dinner? Chicken Pot Pie, of Course," 6 Nov. 2018 Set two rimmed baking sheets nearby, and line one with paper towels. — Joe Yonan, The Seattle Times, "How to make crispy, convenient taquitos (Slurpee not included)," 18 Sep. 2018 Drain the prunes, blot dry with paper towels, chop them, and set aside. — Adam Ried, BostonGlobe.com, "Recipes: Switch it up with lamb burgers instead of beef," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Step 1: Apply Keratin Complex's Vita Volume Boosting Foam to towel-dry hair. — Laurie Espino, Seventeen, "Tips to Getting Lucy Hale's Messy Bun," 18 Apr. 2012 Two tips for curly hair: Leave a little bit of conditioner in after rinsing, and never towel-dry. — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, "Beat the Heat! How 6 Models Maintain Their Signature Spirals," 13 Aug. 2018 Apply on clean skin for no longer than the instructions say (usually six to eight minutes), then towel it off. — Cristina Mueller, Redbook, "Q& Triple A: I have little hairs around my chin and upper lip. Help!," 10 Jan. 2011 Swimmers can reduce the risk of getting the itch by toweling off after going in the water and swimming in colder water, away from shore. — Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, "Feel like a swim? Here’s the lowdown on Anchorage lakes," 4 July 2018 For fun that doesn’t involve having to towel off, Great Wolf created a 40,000-square-foot adventure park that includes a climbing wall, ropes course and nine-hole minigolf course. — Lori Rackl, chicagotribune.com, "First look: Great Wolf Lodge Illinois ready to welcome guests, Chance the Rapper," 21 June 2018 For fun that doesn’t involve having to towel off, Great Wolf created a 40,000-square-foot adventure park that includes a climbing wall, ropes course and nine-hole minigolf course. — Emily K. Coleman, Lake County News-Sun, "Chance the Rapper leads camp kids in test run at Great Wolf Lodge, Gurnee's newly renovated water park," 21 June 2018 Then on Monday, they were photographed toweling off after a swim. — Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE.com, "Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin Step Out as Source Says He 'Has No Contact' with Selena Gomez," 13 June 2018 Visitors can get a haircut and peruse displays of antique and vintage barber equipment, from chairs and striped poles to towel steamers and straight razors. — New York Times, "'Barbering Is an Art’," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'towel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.