towel

1 of 4

noun (1)

tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l 

: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying

see also:

throw in the towel

towel

2 of 4

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

toweling

3 of 4

noun (2)

tow·​el·​ing ˈtau̇-(ə-)liŋ 

variants or towelling

: a cotton or linen fabric often used for making towels

toweling

4 of 4

present participle of towel entry 2

Examples of towel in a Sentence

Noun (1)

She dried her hair with a towel.

Here's a towel to wipe up the spill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The facility’s operator did not demonstrate acceptable food safety knowledge on proper warewashing, sanitizer requirement/use, cloth towel use/storage, food contact surface cleaning and cold holding temperatures. — Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Five designers, including André Fu and Joyce Wang, have left their mark on the neutral-toned rooms, where monogrammed robes, Frette towels, and premixed cocktails chill in the fridge. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

Beachgoers enjoy dedicated loungers, umbrellas, and towel service right on South Beach's golden sands. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026

Then came Week 2, when Brooks took his final snap in the second half and limped to the locker room, towel over his head, and proceeded to watch the rest of the game on the sidelines. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026

Noun

Long overlooked, toweling has really grown into a burgeoning contemporary category. — Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 6 May 2026

The capsule collection of men’s beach, resort and swimwear includes shirts, shorts, swim shorts and accessories in Italian linen, silk and toweling. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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 (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1839, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

1583, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing towel

• beach towel
• dish towel
• hand towel
• kitchen towel
• paper towel
• roller towel
• tea towel
• throw in the towel
• towel bar
• towel rack
• towel rail
• Turkish towel

Rhymes for towel

• bowel
• dowel
• howel
• howell
• vowel
• avowal
• disavowal

Kids Definition

towel

1 of 2 noun

tow·​el ˈtau̇(-ə)l 

: 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 

1

: an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying

2

British : sanitary napkin