tug

play

verb \ ˈtəg \

Definition of tug

tugged; tugging

intransitive verb

1 :to pull hard

2 :to struggle in opposition :contend

3 :to exert oneself laboriously :labor

transitive verb

1 :to pull or strain hard at

2 a :to move by pulling hard :haul

b :to carry with difficulty :lug

3 :to tow with a tugboat

—

tugger

noun

See tug defined for English-language learners

See tug defined for kids

Examples of tug in a Sentence

I felt someone tugging on my sleeve.
She tugged the cord until the plug came out of the wall socket.

Recent Examples of tug from the Web

While the star is tugging, powerful digestive fluids are released from one of the animal’s two stomachs.

— dave taft, New York Times, "Sea Stars Are More Brutal Than They Look," 23 Aug. 2017
Navy personnel also noted that, curiously, Gonzaga and Tabares had requested to board one of Poseidon’s tugs almost immediately after being rescued.

— Bloomberg.com, "The Hijacking of the Brillante Virtuoso," 27 July 2017
The foul was called after Villafaña tugged on Frank Acheampong’s jersey.

— brian straus, SI.com, "Dwyer provides holiday fireworks on USA debut in Gold Cup tune-up win vs. Ghana," 1 July 2017
And there are concerns the U.S. is being tugged more deeply into Syria.

— richard lardner, The Seattle Times, "Measure would require new war authorization from Congress," 30 June 2017
Sure, when the temperatures are truly blistering and the humidity turns the world into your own personal swimming pool, tugging jeans up your legs feels unappealing.

— the editors of gq style, GQ, "The Best Faded, Frayed, and Washed-Out Jeans to Wear All Summer," 28 June 2017
But these films grab hold of the heartstrings from the very beginning and never stop tugging.

— deanna janes, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Best Tearjerker Movies Of All Time," 27 June 2017
Elliott, though, excels at playing this heart-tugging avatar of himself.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "Sam Elliott excels at playing 'Sam Elliott' in 'The Hero'," 21 June 2017
Now the lure of Earthly love is in the mix, tugging at Shadow's loyalties.

— annalee newitz, Ars Technica, "American Gods may be the best show about religion on TV," 21 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of tug

Middle English tuggen; akin to Old English togian to pull — more at tow

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

tug Synonyms

Synonyms

drag, draw, hale, haul, lug, tow, pull

Antonyms

drive, propel, push

Related Words

attract; heave, jerk, yank; carry, convey, ferry, move, transport

Near Antonyms

shove, thrust

tug

noun

Definition of tug

1 a :an act or instance of tugging :pull

b :a strong pulling force

2 a :a straining effort

b :a struggle between two people or opposite forces

3 :tugboat

4 a :³trace 1

b :a short leather strap or loop

c :a rope or chain used for pulling

See tug defined for English-language learners

Examples of tug in a Sentence

He felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.
gave the man in front a tug on his shirtsleeve as a sign that he was supposed to step aside

Recent Examples of tug from the Web

Both said there was a noticeable increase in the secretary’s frustration and his doubts that the tug-of-war with the White House would subside anytime soon.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Tillerson Denies He Wants to Quit, But Doesn’t Appear to Be Doing Much Leading," 7 Aug. 2017
Campers from camps Newhoca, Center 375, Valley Falls, and Henry Park were divided into age groups and competed in a water relay race, a tic-tac-toe relay, a colored-ball relay, and a tug-of war.

— steve smith, Courant Community, "Kids Enjoy Camp Olympics," 19 July 2017
As the Zodiac aims back toward port and the crew tugs, tucks and hauls sails down, Kemper serves up the last beer of the evening, her Schwarz Lager.

— brian j. cantwell, The Seattle Times, "Taste some ales while you take a sail on classic schooner Zodiac on Bellingham Bay," 19 July 2017
A tug was alongside us at the time and part of her side was torn completely out and three of the crew were injured, one of them getting a piece of flesh weighing nearly 2 pounds torn off his leg.

— marc wortman, Smithsonian, "A Newly Discovered Diary Tells the Harrowing Story of the Deadly Halifax Explosion," 15 July 2017
Then, a view from above showed the two still grasping hands as Macron started to back away, creating a sort of tug-and-pull motion before the handshake finally came to an end.

— hilary weaver, Vanities, "Donald Trump’s Awkward European Handshake Tour Won’t Stop," 14 July 2017
Multiple Coast Guard assets — two helicopter crews, two cutters and a response boat focusing on navigation — nine members of an Alaska Air National Guard rescue squadron and good Samaritan tug boat St. Michael were involved with the search.

— jerzy shedlock, Alaska Dispatch News, "Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing boaters near Kodiak," 1 July 2017
Descendants of Friedrich and Marie Seidemann, who settled in the area in 1850s, play games (including tug of war), learn something new (this year, Schottische dancing), perform in a talent show and enter cherry-pit-spitting contests.

— mary bergin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Reunions Bring Wisconsin Travelers Back Year-After-Year," 29 June 2017
J.J. [Abrams] was powerful enough to push back on an unrealistic start date [for the first movie] but that was a tug of war.

— matt miller, Esquire, "It's Time to Be Worried About the Future of Star Wars," 26 June 2017

First Known Use of tug

15th century

tug Synonyms

Synonyms

draw, haul, jerk, pluck, pull, wrench, yank

Antonyms

push

Related Words

drag, tow; hitch, twitch; grab, snatch

Near Antonyms

heave, shove, thrust

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

Tug

abbreviation

Definition of Tug

tugrik, tugriks

TUG Defined for English Language Learners

tug

play

verb

Definition of tug for English Language Learners

: to pull something with a quick, forceful movement

tug

noun

Definition of tug for English Language Learners

: an act of pulling on something : a quick pull
: a strong pulling force

TUG Defined for Kids

tug

play

verb \ ˈtəg \

Definition of tug for Students

tugged; tugging

1 :to pull hard

I tugged at the rope.

2 :to move by pulling hard :drag

3 :to tow with a tugboat

tug

noun

Definition of tug for Students

1 :an act of pulling hard :a hard pull

She gave him a tug.

2 :tugboat

3 :a strong pulling force

the tug of gravity

4 :a struggle between two people or forces

Medical Dictionary

tug

medical Definition of tug

— see tracheal tug

Learn More about tug

See words that rhyme with tug Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tug Spanish Central: Translation of tug Nglish: Translation of tug for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tug for Arabic speakers

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tugger

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tug

Definition of tug

Examples of tug in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tug from the Web

First Known Use of tug

tug Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

Tug

Definition of Tug

Phrases Related to TUG

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TUG Defined for English Language Learners

tug

Definition of tug for English Language Learners

tug

Definition of tug for English Language Learners

TUG Defined for Kids

tug

Definition of tug for Students

tug

Definition of tug for Students

Medical Dictionary

tug

medical Definition of tug

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