tower

¹ American  

[tou-er] / ˈtaʊ ər /

noun

1. a building or structure high in proportion to its lateral dimensions, either isolated or forming part of a building.

2. such a structure used as or intended for a stronghold, fortress, prison, etc.

3. any of various fully enclosed fireproof housings for vertical communications, as staircases, between the stories of a building.

4. any structure, contrivance, or object that resembles or suggests a tower.

5. a tall, movable structure used in ancient and medieval warfare in storming a fortified place.

6. Computers. a tall, vertical case with accessible horizontal drive bays, designed to house a computer system standing on a desk or floor.

7. Aviation. control tower.

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verb (used without object)

towers, present (3rd person singular) towered, past participle, past towering present participle

1. to rise or extend far upward, as a tower; reach or stand high.

   The skyscraper towers above the city.

2. to rise above or surpass others.

   She towers above the other students.

3. Falconry. (of a hawk) to rise straight into the air; to ring up.

idioms

1. tower of strength, a person who can be relied on for support, aid, or comfort, especially in times of difficulty.

tower ² American  

[toh-er] / ˈtoʊ ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that tows.

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tower British  

/ ˈtaʊə /

noun

1. a tall, usually square or circular structure, sometimes part of a larger building and usually built for a specific purpose

   a church tower

   a control tower

2. a place of defence or retreat

3. a mobile structure used in medieval warfare to attack a castle, etc

4. a person who gives support, comfort, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to be or rise like a tower; loom

tower More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing tower

• ivory tower

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• towerless
  adjective
• towerlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• towering
  present
• towered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• tower
  simple
• towers
  simple
• have towered
  perfect
• has towered
  perfect
• am towering
  progressive
• are towering
  progressive
• is towering
  progressive
• have been towering
  perfect progressive
• has been towering
  perfect progressive

Past

• towered
  simple
• had towered
  perfect
• was towering
  progressive
• were towering
  progressive
• had been towering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will tower
  simple
• will have towered
  perfect
• will be towering
  progressive
• will have been towering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of tower¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun tour, earlier tur, tor, from Old French tur, tor, from Latin turris, from Greek týrris, variant of týrsis “tower”; Middle English tor perhaps continuing Old English torr, from Latin turris, as above

Origin of tower²

First recorded in 1485–95; tow ¹ + -er ¹

Explanation

A tower is a tall structure, with the diameter of its base less than its height. Rapunzel lived in a tower. If you have a super tall friend and you're short, you could say they tower over you. Towers can come in handy––you can build one and climb to the top, looking out for approaching enemies, or in the case of a fire tower, for early signs of forest fires. One of the most famous towers is the Tower of London, with its long-held reputation as a place of torture and execution. Most people are surprised to learn that only seven people were executed in the Tower.

Example Sentences

China launched a campaign against fire hazards in high-rise buildings in November, after a huge blaze engulfed several tower blocks in Hong Kong, killing 168 people.

From Barron's • Jul. 9, 2026

The redevelopment of the old Pfizer headquarters includes the addition of 19 stories atop the 10-story building, transforming it into a 29-story residential tower with more than 500 apartments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026

The former head office of the drug giant Pfizer, near Grand Central station and the United Nations headquarters, is being converted from offices into apartments in a major transformation project at the tower.

From Barron's • Jul. 7, 2026

Financial services firm Wedbush Securities moved from a prominent financial district office tower to Pasadena.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026

My brain silently named each of the large stone buildings that surrounded the Mall—the Roosevelt Building, the Revere Building, and the Edison Building with its impressive clock tower.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin