Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

tow truck

American  

noun

tow trucks plural
  1. wrecker.


tow truck British  

noun

  1. Also called: breakdown van.   wrecker.  a motor vehicle equipped for towing away wrecked or disabled cars

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of tow truck

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Curbside, for instance, has begun training gig workers in how to do quick vehicle fixes that don’t require a tow truck or advanced equipment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The axles use open differentials and brake-based torque vectoring to articulate power left or right—an ability that could make the difference between getting to the ski resort or glumly waiting for a tow truck.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

He was a waiter, a tow truck driver and an aide to students with special needs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

At 6 a.m. in early December, an unlabeled white tow truck cruised into Jesse Roller’s Chino neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2026

A tow truck was winching a blue SUV out of the ditch.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "tow truck" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com