tug

1 of 4

verb

ˈtəg 

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 or forcefully at

felt someone tugging my sleeve

tugged the cord until it came out of the socket

2

a

: to move by pulling hard : haul

b

: to carry with difficulty : lug

3

: to tow with a tugboat

tugger noun

tug

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

a

: an act or instance of tugging : pull

gave the rope a good tug

b

: a strong pulling force

felt a tug on his jersey

2

a

: a straining effort

b

: a struggle between two people or opposite forces

3

: tugboat

4

a

: trace entry 3 sense 1

b

: a short leather strap or loop

c

: a rope or chain used for pulling

Tug

3 of 4

abbreviation

tugrik, tugriks

tugger

4 of 4

noun (2)

tug·​ger

ˈtəgə(r)

plural -s

: one that tugs

specifically : a small portable hoist used in a mine and usually mounted on a column and driven by air or electricity

Synonyms of tug

Verb

• pull
• haul
• drag

Noun (1)

• pull
• yank
• jerk
• wrench

Examples of tug in a Sentence

Verb

I felt someone tugging on my sleeve.

She tugged the cord until the plug came out of the wall socket.

Noun (1)

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 on the Web

Verb

Their interactions tug on heartstrings and set us up to root for both when the creeps come in. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 June 2026

Vinicus followed up his stunning early strike with a series of nagging runs, tugging the Panamanians’ back line into awkward shapes. —Jack Lang, New York Times, 1 June 2026

Noun

In the last two months, alligators have been spotted sitting on a front porch, playing tug of war with police officers, walking from house to house, and on Tuesday, June 9, one was found shot to death. —Eva Flowe june 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026

Cleaner airport operations Still, the aircraft tug does far more than just slash emissions. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing tug

• tug-of-love
• tug-of-war
• tug/pull at one's heartstrings
• tug/touch one's forelock

Rhymes for tug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug
• rug
• rugg

Kids Definition

tug

1 of 2 verb

ˈtəg 

tugged; tugging

1

a

: to pull hard

b

: to move by pulling hard : drag

2

: to tow with a tugboat

tugger noun

tug

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: an act or instance of tugging : pull

b

: a strong pulling force

2

: a struggle between two people or forces

3

: tugboat

Medical Definition

tug

see tracheal tug