tower

1 of 2

noun

tow·​er ˈtau̇(-ə)r 

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

ˈtau̇(-ə)rd 

adjective

towerlike

ˈtau̇(-ə)r-ˌlīk 

adjective

tower

2 of 2

verb

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'

Synonyms of tower

Noun

• cathedral
• edifice
• palace
• structure
• hall

Verb

• exceed
• surpass
• top
• eclipse
• better

Examples of tower in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

that actor's performance towered over all others in the film

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Reaching it means climbing down the tower steps and padding past other guests’s doors late at night. — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

Icon 2, a condo tower with about 1,300 residents, is across Mary Brickell Park from the church site. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Verb

Its skyline is dominated by towering smokestacks, hulking arrays of metal tubes and bright flames erupting from flares at petrochemical plants in the global plastics supply chain. — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Was the giant inflatable Statham towering over Hollywood Blvd. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tower

• bell tower
• conning tower
• cooling tower
• fire tower
• ivory tower
• Martello tower
• tower above/over
• tower block
• tower house
• tower of Babel
• tower of strength
• water tower

Rhymes for tower

• bower
• cower
• dour
• flour
• flower
• fower
• glower
• hour
• our
• power
• scour
• shower

Kids Definition

tower

1 of 2 noun

tow·​er ˈtau̇(-ə)r 

1

: a tall narrow building or structure that may stand by itself or be attached to a larger structure

2

: citadel sense 1

towered

ˈtau̇(-ə)rd 

adjective

tower

2 of 2 verb

: to reach or rise to a great height