tailgate

verb

Definition of tailgatenext
as in to tail

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tailgate While driving the five miles home, she was recorded tailgating other vehicles, swerving off the road and crossing over into the on-coming lane, according to the Daily Mail. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026 UConn is encouraging fans to arrive early to tailgate in the Blue Lot. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 10 Apr. 2026 Consider going all out and tailgate, or watch the game while enjoying cheese curds and wings at Stadium View Bar, bratwurst at Johnsonville Tailgate Village or bloody marys at Anduzzi’s Sports Club. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 31 Mar. 2026 Motorists are reminded not to tailgate a snowplow — leave four car-lengths between the snowplow and your vehicle — and do not pass a snowplow. — Michelle Cruz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailgate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tailgate
  1. tail
  2. dog
Verb
  • She was tailed by her American lover Brad, who proceeded, as was his wont, to narrate the scene in singsong English.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The quick-thinking worker tailed Morales to the suspect’s NYCHA apartment building on Amsterdam Ave.
    — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
Definition of tail
Verb
  • This spring, Anthropic let the robot dogs out again, but this time, an improved Claude worked alone.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But controversies tied to the people around him — most recently antisemitic and white nationalist social media posts by his son-in-law — have dogged him throughout his campaign.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of dog

Browse Nearby Words

tail ends
tailgate
tailgated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tailgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tailgate. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tailgate

Nglish: Translation of tailgate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of anecdote

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All