towel

1 of 2

noun

tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce towel (audio)
: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying

towel

2 of 2

verb

toweled or towelled; toweling or towelling

transitive verb

: to rub or dry (something, such as the body) with a towel

intransitive verb

: to use a towel to dry oneself
toweled down after swimming

Examples of towel in a Sentence

Noun She dried her hair with a towel. Here's a towel to wipe up the spill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Each towel is made with the equivalent of about 5 plastic bottles and there are more than 20 designs to choose from. Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2024 About 90 percent of the animals are brought here not by animal-control officers but by Parisians or suburb-dwellers who notice an animal in distress and try to help, swaddling a fox in towels or nestling a bird in a shoe box and delivering it here. Jess McHugh, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 The wind eventually destroyed so many umbrellas that the players started requesting towels instead. Abby Aguirre, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024 Plus, the thinness of the material dries more quickly than thicker, plush towels. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 The desk clerk said the hotel had a towel list and a noise list. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024 Duarte walked to the locker room immediately with a towel over his face but later returned to the game. Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024 Most baby food makers can be wiped down with a wet towel after each use. Laura Denby, Parents, 29 Feb. 2024 Wealthy residents could throw in the towel and move their families (and tax dollars) to low-tax states like Texas or Florida. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 25 Feb. 2024
Verb
Steering clear of sponges, scrub brushes, and cloths — or at least using them gingerly — can help, too, as can patting or blotting your skin when toweling dry. Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 But downtown Miami and neighborhoods like Brickell, Wynwood ,and the latest creative hub Little River are worth toweling off for to explore. Terry Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2024 For maximum absorption, work the product into your skin via gentle massage immediately after toweling off post-shower. Brigitt Earley, Allure, 4 Feb. 2024 The ball boys and girls toweled off the volleyballs. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The robe isn’t particularly absorbent and felt uncomfortable during our post-shower test, suggesting it’s not meant for toweling purposes. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2023 Choose terrycloth for toweling off and plush or fleece robes for lounging comfort. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2023 Wear loose clothing, towel off and take breaks during exercise, and shower immediately afterward with cold or lukewarm water. Soap, Shampoo, and Cleansers Many personal hygiene products can irritate sensitive eczema skin and strip away natural oils that keep skin moist. Karen Pallarito, Health, 18 Dec. 2023 This Lululemon yoga towel with microfiber fabric prevents your mat from becoming a slip-and-slide. Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'towel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English towaille, from Anglo-French tuaille, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German dwahila towel; akin to Old High German dwahan to wash

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1839, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of towel was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near towel

Cite this Entry

“Towel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/towel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

towel

1 of 2 noun
tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce towel (audio)
: a cloth or piece of absorbent paper for wiping or drying

towel

2 of 2 verb
toweled or towelled; toweling or towelling
: to rub or dry with a towel : use a towel to dry off

Medical Definition

towel

noun
tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce towel (audio)
1
: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying
2
British : sanitary napkin

More from Merriam-Webster on towel

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