tower
1 of 2noun
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 2verb
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
Noun
- cathedral
- edifice
- hall
- palace
Verb
- beat
- better
- eclipse
- exceed
- excel
- outclass
- outdistance
- outdo
- outgun
- outmatch
- outshine
- outstrip
- overtop
- surpass
- top
- transcend
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun a hill from which one can gaze upon the towers of that great and historic city
Recent Examples on the Web
Abigail Hasebroock, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2022 In her first competition ever on tower, the 16-year-old finished third to make Team USA. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 16 July 2022 Work is underway on an office tower over South Station and its commuter rail tracks. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 2 July 2022 The city suspended the monthly payments on the Ash Street office tower in September 2020, a few weeks after the Gordon case was filed. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2022 Officials with Hines argue that delays and distractions by playhouse supporters forced them to seek the extension on the 150 South Main Street Apartments tower. The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 May 2022 Prokopov had also been sleeping during the attack on the apartment tower. Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 2 May 2022 The Atlanta Braves and Truist Financial this week withdrew their application for property tax breaks on a $200 million office tower at The Battery, Cobb County development officials confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Brian Eason, ajc, 30 Apr. 2022 Access hatches popped open on the Lighthouse drop tower. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2022 Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 The sequoias in the grove, which was established in 1857, can tower to heights above 250 feet, or more than 20 stories tall. Elizabeth Wolfe, Amanda Watts And Michelle Watson, CNN, 11 July 2022 Some cycads are small, growing only a few inches off the ground, while others can tower over your head. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2022 Palm trees tower over some of the most beautiful and iconic blocks in the city that don’t have any shade. Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2022 Like the other products in the Swiss luxury brand’s Pure Gold line, the new Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm—a rich, decadent night cream—is set in a refillable gold vessel that will tower over the other products on your vanity. Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 June 2022 Ahead of the hottest months of the year, PEOPLE Tested evaluated 31 fans — from desk fans to tower fans — and our team's top choice is on super sale at Amazon right now. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE.com, 4 June 2022 Tipped on one end and plunked down on Forty-second Street, a U.L.C.V. would tower over the Chrysler Building. Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 But the statue that used to tower over residents has disappeared. New York Times, 5 May 2022 See More
Noun
In April, Tyre’s family filed a lawsuit against the ride’s owner, SlingShot Group, its landlord ICON Park and various manufacturers and installers who worked on the drop tower, alleging negligence. Abigail Hasebroock, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2022 In her first competition ever on tower, the 16-year-old finished third to make Team USA. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 16 July 2022 Work is underway on an office tower over South Station and its commuter rail tracks. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 2 July 2022 The city suspended the monthly payments on the Ash Street office tower in September 2020, a few weeks after the Gordon case was filed. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2022 Officials with Hines argue that delays and distractions by playhouse supporters forced them to seek the extension on the 150 South Main Street Apartments tower. The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 May 2022 Prokopov had also been sleeping during the attack on the apartment tower. Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 2 May 2022 The Atlanta Braves and Truist Financial this week withdrew their application for property tax breaks on a $200 million office tower at The Battery, Cobb County development officials confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Brian Eason, ajc, 30 Apr. 2022 Access hatches popped open on the Lighthouse drop tower. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2022 Verb
In the opera, Wild Things tower over the woman playing Max, the show’s young anti-hero. Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 The sequoias in the grove, which was established in 1857, can tower to heights above 250 feet, or more than 20 stories tall. Elizabeth Wolfe, Amanda Watts And Michelle Watson, CNN, 11 July 2022 Some cycads are small, growing only a few inches off the ground, while others can tower over your head. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2022 Palm trees tower over some of the most beautiful and iconic blocks in the city that don’t have any shade. Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2022 Like the other products in the Swiss luxury brand’s Pure Gold line, the new Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm—a rich, decadent night cream—is set in a refillable gold vessel that will tower over the other products on your vanity. Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 June 2022 Ahead of the hottest months of the year, PEOPLE Tested evaluated 31 fans — from desk fans to tower fans — and our team's top choice is on super sale at Amazon right now. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE.com, 4 June 2022 Tipped on one end and plunked down on Forty-second Street, a U.L.C.V. would tower over the Chrysler Building. Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 But the statue that used to tower over residents has disappeared. New York Times, 5 May 2022 See More 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
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing tower
Kids Definition
tower 1 of 2
noun
tow·er ˈtau̇-ər
: a building or structure that is higher than its length or width, is higher than most of what surrounds it, and may stand by itself or be attached to a larger structure
tower
2 of 2verb
towered; towering
: to reach or rise to a great height
tower 1 of 2
noun
as in cathedral
a large, magnificent, or massive building a hill from which one can gaze upon the towers of that great and historic city Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cathedral
- edifice
- palace
- structure
- hall
- monument
- castle
- mansion
- construction
- manor
- erection
- estate
- memorial
- mausoleum
- villa
- château
- manor house
- hacienda
- showplace
- countryseat
tower
2 of 2verb
as in to climb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- climb
- mount
- ascend
- lift
- up
- rise
- top
- surge
- thrust
- balloon
- upturn
- uprear
- crest
- soar
- upthrust
- aspire
- uplift
- scale
- upraise
- elevate
- tilt
- slope
- arise
- boost
- upheave
- blast off
- zoom
- uprise
- tip
- slant
- take off
- raise
- incline
- list
- surmount
- lean
- cant
- recline
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- descend
- drop
- fall (off)
- decline
- dip
- slide
- plunge
- dive
- sink
- plummet
- nose-dive