tugboat

noun

tug·​boat ˈtəg-ˌbōt 

: a strongly built powerful boat used for towing and pushing

called also towboat

Examples of tugboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To create the whirlpool Charybdis, which Odysseus must avoid so as to not lose all his men, Fisher says they were inspired by the kind of water displacement created by powerful tugboats and ferries pulling away at a dock. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 July 2026

The vessels included tankers, dry cargo ships, a ferry and tugboats, Brovdi said on the Telegram messaging app. — Emma Carmichael, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Ukraine’s General Staff said 21 tankers used to transport oil and petroleum products were damaged overnight, in addition to four tugboats, two cargo ships and a dredging vessel. — ABC News, 11 July 2026

Photos from another resident at Points of America, Lenny Abrams, show the barges and tugboats within approximately 50 yards of shore. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tugboat

• afloat
• azote
• banknote
• bareboat
• benzoate
• connote
• cutthroat
• demote
• denote
• devote
• endnote
• footnote

Kids Definition

tugboat

noun

tug·​boat ˈtəg-ˌbōt 

: a strongly built powerful boat used for towing and pushing ships