tower

noun tow·er \ ˈtau̇(-ə)r \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of tower

1 : a building or structure typically higher than its diameter and high relative to its surroundings that may stand apart (such as a campanile) or be attached (such as a church belfry) to a larger structure and that may be fully walled in or of skeleton framework (such as an observation or transmission tower)

2 : a towering citadel : fortress

3 : one that provides support or protection : bulwark

a tower of strength

4 : a personal computer case that stands in an upright position

—

towered

play \ˈtau̇(-ə)rd\ adjective

—

towerlike

play \ˈtau̇(-ə)r-ˌlīk\ adjective

See tower defined for English-language learners

See tower defined for kids

Examples of tower in a Sentence

a hill from which one can gaze upon the towers of that great and historic city

Recent Examples of tower from the Web

Oakland’s other two office towers under construction are Shorenstein’s 601 City Center and Ellis Partners’ 1100 Broadway.

— roland li, SFChronicle.com, "Eastline, bigger than Salesforce Tower, wants to transform Oakland," 6 July 2018
The plan was to build two 56-story towers on a 10-story base near the PATH station.

— New York Times, "Kushner Company Sues Jersey City, Claiming ‘Anti-Trump’ Bent Stalled Project," 28 June 2018
Its brand new home consists of two office towers, 39 and 50 storeys high, which are among the tallest in the coastal city of Shenzhen.

— The Economist, "The ultimate walled gardenChina has the world’s most centralised internet system," 28 June 2018
According to Joe Rubino at The Denver Post, a redevelopment proposal unveiled earlier this year would tear down several buildings in Denver’s first commercial block and build two new towers.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Route 66 and 10 Other Sites That Made the 2018 “Most Endangered Historic Places” List," 26 June 2018
The implosion demolished about 85 percent of the two eight-story towers of the building, which once was a fashionable hotel, at 1601 N. Universal Ave.

— robert a. cronkleton and matt campbell, kansascity, "Implosion brings down the former Park Place Hotel in Kansas City," 24 June 2018
Apart from the European Central Bank, occupying two avant-garde towers in Frankfurt’s Ostend (East End), most financial institutions are within a roughly one-mile radius in the city’s western parts and close to the main train station.

— nina adam, WSJ, "Frankfurt: A Business Traveler’s Guide," 22 June 2018
The house also has two view towers with balconies to view the surrounding desert.

— lorraine longhi, azcentral, "Luxury homes: $4.7M Scottsdale mansion has secret room, 2 towers and tennis court," 18 June 2018
The company is building luxury apartments in two uptown towers and at Providence and Fairview roads.

— ely portillo and hannah lang, charlotteobserver, "There's an 'arms race' to lure renters, and it now involves pet spas and beer gardens," 13 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of tower

Middle English tour, tor, from Old English torr & Anglo-French tur, tour, both from Latin turris, from Greek tyrris, tyrsis

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

tower Synonyms

Synonyms

cathedral, edifice, hall, palace;

Related Words

construction, erection, structure;

castle, château, countryseat, estate, hacienda, manor, manor house, mansion, showplace, villa;

mausoleum, memorial, monument;

tower

verb

Definition of tower

towered; towering; towers

intransitive verb

1 : to reach or rise to a great height

2 : to exhibit superior qualities : surpass

her intellect towered over the others'

See tower defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of tower from the Web

On an early June evening, the three-paneled video billboard that towers over one of downtown Toronto’s busiest intersections shuffles through its usual advertisements.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Unprecedented Billboard Campaign Puts Spotlight on Indigenous Artists in Canada," 13 July 2018
With the queen in the middle, the Trumps seemed to tower over the monarch, who stands roughly 5-foot-3.

— jill colvin, BostonGlobe.com, "After Trump’s tumult, time for tea with the queen," 13 July 2018
On a night when the young class shone, Amanda Mena towered over her America’s Got Talent competitors.

— lars brandle, Billboard, "Watch Amanda Mena's Golden Buzzer-Winning Performance on 'America's Got Talent'," 20 June 2018
There actually aren’t a lot of highlights, but there is hysterical footage of Robinson towering over high schoolers and rejecting shots into the crowd. 24.

— andrew perloff, SI.com, "2018 NBA Mock Draft: The YouTube Edition," 20 June 2018
The 6-3, 190-pound point guard didn’t even back down when Perkins stood up and started yelling back while towering over him.

— chuck schilken, latimes.com, "Stephen Curry dominates in the fourth quarter of Game 2 following confrontation with Kendrick Perkins," 4 June 2018
At over six feet tall, the Danish-Italian actress and model towered over her husband, a former model himself, while out for a stroll in Los Angeles on Thursday.

— mike miller, PEOPLE.com, "Pregnant Brigitte Nielsen, 54, Steps Out with Her 39-Year-Old Husband," 1 June 2018
The derring-do going on every year on the cliffs towering over Yosemite Valley is a major attraction in the park and, unlike in previous years, climbers are now accepted more or less as partners by the National Park Service.

— peter fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Duo breaks speed-climbing record on Yosemite’s El Capitan Nose," 30 May 2018
Massive at 450 feet and towering over Florida's Turnpike, the new 638-room addition to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood complex practically belts out to drivers: HARD ROCK THIS WAY.

— chabeli herrera, miamiherald, "With last beam in place, Hollywood Hard Rock's guitar-shaped hotel is almost finished," 9 July 2018

First Known Use of tower

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

TOWER Defined for English Language Learners

tower

noun

Definition of tower for English Language Learners

: a tall, narrow building or structure that may stand apart from or be attached to another building or structure
: a tall piece of furniture used to store something
computers : a personal computer that stands in an upright position

TOWER Defined for Kids

tower

noun tow·er \ ˈtau̇-ər \

Definition of tower for Students

: a building or structure that is higher than its length or width, is higher than most of what surrounds it, and may stand by itself or be attached to a larger structure