tailgate
1 of 3noun
tail·gate ˈtāl-ˌgāt 
1
: a board or gate at the rear of a vehicle that can be removed or let down (as for loading)
2
[from the custom of seating trombonists at the rear of trucks carrying jazz bands in parades] : a jazz trombone style marked by much use of slides to and from long sustained tones
3
US : tailgate party
Nowadays, tailgates have evolved into mobile feasts: face-to-face social networks where complete strangers bond over food and drink, and everyone is eager to share.
Greg Ferro
Greg Ferrotailgate
2 of 3verb
tailgated; tailgating
intransitive verb
1
: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle
2
US : to have a tailgate party
transitive verb
: to drive dangerously close behind
tailgater noun
tailgate
3 of 3adjective
US
: relating to or being a tailgate party
Example Sentences
Verb He hit the car in front of him because he was tailgating. They started tailgating at 10 o'clock.
Recent Examples on the Web Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2022 But that shouldn't stop the most loyal Bengals fan from creating a playlist to blare at a football watch party, Kansas City tailgate or just doing everyday things like driving to work. Joe Harrington, The Enquirer, 26 Jan. 2022 Attendees can enjoy a tailgate dinner courtesy of sponsors Discount Drug Mar, Bob Evans and Harry’s Steakhouse. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 23 Aug. 2022 Nothing can transport you to a college tailgate like a good game of cornhole. Karla Pope, Woman's Day, 11 Aug. 2022 Standard equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, navigation, heated seats, and a power tailgate. Nicholas Wallace, Car and Driver, 7 June 2022 This leather-rich cabin boasts best-in-class space, with stretch-out rear-seat legroom and a generously sized trunk beneath the high-lifting tailgate. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2022 Lending a hand to practicality, the tailgate also features a midgate height for longer items. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 11 Aug. 2022 According to the release, the truck had a brush guard, light tint on the front windows, dark tint on the back windows, damage on the back right quarter panel and was missing the tailgate. Angela Cordoba Perez, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 Santaluces had a pep rally at the gymnasium before the school’s 40th anniversary alumni tailgate celebration, which included food trucks, music, photo booths and games. Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 Yes, fans who have purchased a special events parking permit and their guests may responsibly tailgate within the immediate area of their parking space. Mike Hart, Journal Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022 Sydney Hughes, 24, arrived about two hours early to tailgate with co-workers from a Philadelphia architecture firm. New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022 Ohio State Buckeyes collapsible round table with cup holders ($57.99, Fanatics) is easy to haul to tailgate events and set up dining space for your OSU Buckeyes friends. Paris Wolfe, cleveland, 5 Aug. 2022 Fans were not allowed to tailgate on the University of Alabama campus during the 2020 football season, due to COVID. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 22 Sep. 2021 The atmosphere in the nondescript parking lot has a communal vibe as people tailgate and eat their food. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2022 Entry fees are $160 (steaks) and $25 (anything tailgate food). Marc Bona, cleveland, 5 July 2022 Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 7 Sep. 2022 If your deck is most often used for tailgate parties and backyard barbecues, go with temporary seasonal decor that can be easily set up and taken down. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2022 Football fans are notoriously competitive…and not just in stadiums cheering on their teams, but at tailgate parties too. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 10 Aug. 2022 Except for the colors worn by the partygoers, the tailgate scene was indistinguishable from a Packers game. Robert Zizzo, Journal Sentinel, 24 July 2022 Filled with beef and vegetables and deep fried in a pastry crust, Chiko rolls have moved beyond tailgate food for sporting events to an iconic takeaway food throughout Australia. Casey Barber, CNN, 18 May 2022 Boots started thumping, hands started clapping and a sea of cellphone lights started beaming to the rhythm of a song that has become a tailgate anthem at the Baton Rouge university. Washington Post, 3 May 2022 Making flat work surfaces that bolt in place of the tailgate fascias for most common pickups out of food-grade plastic, Mountain Hatch ($250) is able to turn an otherwise impractical surface into a multipurpose tool. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 18 Apr. 2022 Fans raised beers and cheered as mushers and dog teams raced through their tailgate parties along the Chester Creek Trail. Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Mar. 2022 See More
Noun
The low roof — just 63.9 inches high —and wide stance — 86.9 inches with mirrors out — combine with the Lyriq’s 196.7-inch length to create a low, sporty profile that’s enhanced by a long hood and sharply sloped tailgate. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2022 But that shouldn't stop the most loyal Bengals fan from creating a playlist to blare at a football watch party, Kansas City tailgate or just doing everyday things like driving to work. Joe Harrington, The Enquirer, 26 Jan. 2022 Attendees can enjoy a tailgate dinner courtesy of sponsors Discount Drug Mar, Bob Evans and Harry’s Steakhouse. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 23 Aug. 2022 Nothing can transport you to a college tailgate like a good game of cornhole. Karla Pope, Woman's Day, 11 Aug. 2022 Standard equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, navigation, heated seats, and a power tailgate. Nicholas Wallace, Car and Driver, 7 June 2022 This leather-rich cabin boasts best-in-class space, with stretch-out rear-seat legroom and a generously sized trunk beneath the high-lifting tailgate. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2022 Lending a hand to practicality, the tailgate also features a midgate height for longer items. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 11 Aug. 2022 According to the release, the truck had a brush guard, light tint on the front windows, dark tint on the back windows, damage on the back right quarter panel and was missing the tailgate. Angela Cordoba Perez, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 Verb
The Bearcats Bash, a watch party and tailgate on Vine Street, has been canceled this weekend, but here are some other great tailgating hotspots worth checking out. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2022 Santaluces had a pep rally at the gymnasium before the school’s 40th anniversary alumni tailgate celebration, which included food trucks, music, photo booths and games. Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 Yes, fans who have purchased a special events parking permit and their guests may responsibly tailgate within the immediate area of their parking space. Mike Hart, Journal Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022 Sydney Hughes, 24, arrived about two hours early to tailgate with co-workers from a Philadelphia architecture firm. New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022 Ohio State Buckeyes collapsible round table with cup holders ($57.99, Fanatics) is easy to haul to tailgate events and set up dining space for your OSU Buckeyes friends. Paris Wolfe, cleveland, 5 Aug. 2022 Fans were not allowed to tailgate on the University of Alabama campus during the 2020 football season, due to COVID. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 22 Sep. 2021 The atmosphere in the nondescript parking lot has a communal vibe as people tailgate and eat their food. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2022 Entry fees are $160 (steaks) and $25 (anything tailgate food). Marc Bona, cleveland, 5 July 2022 Adjective
Otherwise, what are all those incredible tailgate parties for? Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 7 Sep. 2022 If your deck is most often used for tailgate parties and backyard barbecues, go with temporary seasonal decor that can be easily set up and taken down. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2022 Football fans are notoriously competitive…and not just in stadiums cheering on their teams, but at tailgate parties too. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 10 Aug. 2022 Except for the colors worn by the partygoers, the tailgate scene was indistinguishable from a Packers game. Robert Zizzo, Journal Sentinel, 24 July 2022 Filled with beef and vegetables and deep fried in a pastry crust, Chiko rolls have moved beyond tailgate food for sporting events to an iconic takeaway food throughout Australia. Casey Barber, CNN, 18 May 2022 Boots started thumping, hands started clapping and a sea of cellphone lights started beaming to the rhythm of a song that has become a tailgate anthem at the Baton Rouge university. Washington Post, 3 May 2022 Making flat work surfaces that bolt in place of the tailgate fascias for most common pickups out of food-grade plastic, Mountain Hatch ($250) is able to turn an otherwise impractical surface into a multipurpose tool. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 18 Apr. 2022 Fans raised beers and cheered as mushers and dog teams raced through their tailgate parties along the Chester Creek Trail. Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1949, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Adjective
1962, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing tailgate
Kids Definition
tailgate
noun
tail·gate ˈtāl-ˌgāt
: a panel at the back end of a vehicle that can be lowered for loading and unloading
tailgate
verb
as in to tail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- tail
- dog
- trail
- hound
- shadow
- follow
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- show
- route
- guide
- steer
- pilot
- lead
- conduct
- direct
- usher
- marshal
- precede
- attend
- marshall
- escort
- see
- convoy
- accompany
- chaperone
- chaperon