towel

1 of 2

noun

tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l 

: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying

towel

2 of 2

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

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

His instinctive reaction, tearful after losing another final, was to throw in the towel, to announce his career with Argentina was over at the age of 29, to focus on his club career, which by comparison brought him so much joy and so little anxiety. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026

While most hostels rent towels to guests, having your own is often cleaner and can save money over time. — Hayley Domin, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026

Verb

Solar power for water heating and towel washing on demand is practiced. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

Using too much detergent can leave behind residue that clings to towel fibers. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1839, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing towel

• beach towel
• dish towel
• hand towel
• kitchen towel
• paper towel
• roller towel
• tea towel
• throw in the towel
• towel bar
• towel rack
• towel rail
• Turkish towel

Rhymes for towel

• bowel
• dowel
• howel
• howell
• vowel
• avowal
• disavowal

Kids Definition

towel

1 of 2 noun

tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l 

: 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 

1

: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying

2

British : sanitary napkin