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

Once the plant reaches the end of its operational lifespan, tugboats will tow the entire barge to a specialized shipyard for decommissioning. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026

The car stops, and there’s a tugboat in the middle of the road. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

According to court records, Lopez Insua was piloting a 25-foot (8-meter) tugboat pushing a construction barge across Biscayne Bay on July 28, 2025. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

According to prosecutors, Insua was operating a tugboat pushing a barge loaded with construction debris, while a deckhouse and crane obstructed his view ahead. — Bethany Brown, PEOPLE, 22 July 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