tower

1 of 2

noun

tow·​er ˈtau̇(-ə)r 

1

: a building or structure typically higher than its diameter and high relative to its surroundings that may stand apart (such as a campanile) or be attached (such as a church belfry) to a larger structure and that may be fully walled in or of skeleton framework (such as an observation or transmission tower)

2

: a towering citadel : fortress

3

: one that provides support or protection : bulwark

a tower of strength

4

: a personal computer case that stands in an upright position

towered

ˈtau̇(-ə)rd 

adjective

towerlike

ˈtau̇(-ə)r-ˌlīk 

adjective

tower

2 of 2

verb

towered; towering; towers

intransitive verb

1

: to reach or rise to a great height

2

: to exhibit superior qualities : surpass

her intellect towered over the others'

Synonyms of tower

Noun

• cathedral
• edifice
• palace
• structure
• hall

Verb

• exceed
• surpass
• top
• eclipse
• better

Examples of tower in a Sentence

Noun

a hill from which one can gaze upon the towers of that great and historic city

Verb

that actor's performance towered over all others in the film

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The service is particularly useful for people in remote locations, where cell towers cannot reach. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026

What to do nearby The hotel sits in a prime position between the sleek towers of the Porta Nuova neighborhood and the city’s historic center. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

Fitting that there are dinosaur replicas towering over the lobby that leads straight through the building. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026

Those facilities include long plastic silobags snaking across fields and towering metal grain elevators that are themselves increasingly vulnerable to military strikes. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tour, tor, from Old English torr & Anglo-French tur, tour, both from Latin turris, from Greek tyrris, tyrsis

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tower

• bell tower
• conning tower
• cooling tower
• fire tower
• ivory tower
• Martello tower
• tower above/over
• tower block
• tower house
• tower of Babel
• tower of strength
• water tower

Rhymes for tower

• bower
• cower
• dour
• flour
• flower
• fower
• glower
• hour
• our
• power
• scour
• shower

Kids Definition

tower

1 of 2 noun

tow·​er ˈtau̇(-ə)r 

1

: a tall narrow building or structure that may stand by itself or be attached to a larger structure

2

: citadel sense 1

towered

ˈtau̇(-ə)rd 

adjective

tower

2 of 2 verb

: to reach or rise to a great height