tug

American  

[tuhg] / tʌg /

verb (used with object)

tugs, present (3rd person singular) tugged, past participle, past tugging present participle

1. to pull at with force, vigor, or effort.

   Synonyms:

   wrench, jerk, yank

2. to move by pulling forcibly; drag; haul.

3. to tow (a vessel) by means of a tugboat.

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verb (used without object)

tugs, present (3rd person singular) tugged, past participle, past tugging present participle

1. to pull with force or effort.

   to tug at a stuck drawer.

2. to strive hard; labor; toil.

noun

1. an act or instance of tugging; pull; haul.

2. a strenuous contest between opposing forces, groups, or persons; struggle.

   the tug of young minds in a seminar.

3. tugboat.

4. that by which something is tugged, as a rope or chain.

5. (on a harness)

   1. trace.

   2. any of various supporting or pulling parts.

tug British  

/ tʌɡ /

verb

1. to pull or drag with sharp or powerful movements

   the boy tugged at the door handle

2. (tr) to tow (a vessel) by means of a tug

3. (intr) to work; toil

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noun

1. a strong pull or jerk

   he gave the rope a tug

2. Also called: tugboat.   towboat.  a boat with a powerful engine, used for towing barges, ships, etc

3. a hard struggle or fight

4. a less common word for trace 2

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tugless
  adjective
• untugged
  adjective
• tugger
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have tugged
  perfect
• has tugged
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been tugging
  perfect progressive
• has been tugging
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are tugging
  progressive
• tugs
  singular 3rd person
• is tugging
  progressive 3rd person singular
• tugging
  participle
• am tugging
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had tugged
  perfect
• tugged
  participle
• were tugging
  progressive plural
• tugged
  simple
• had been tugging
  perfect progressive
• was tugging
  progressive singular

Future

• will tug
  simple
• will have tugged
  perfect
• will be tugging
  progressive
• will have been tugging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of tug

1175–1225; Middle English toggen to play-wrestle, contend; akin to Old English togian to tow ¹

Explanation

To tug is to forcefully pull or drag something. You might need your sister's help to tug your knee-high boots off at the end of a long day. A child might tug at his parent's arm and a commuter might tug a rolling suitcase behind her as she enters a subway car. Something else that tugs is a tugboat — and tug is a common nickname for these boats that are designed to pull (or push) other vessels. Tug and tow share the same root word meaning "to pull" or "to lead."

Example Sentences

With the Iran war now well into its third month, countries are scrambling to circumvent the geopolitical tug of war by transitioning more quickly to renewables.

From Salon • May 16, 2026

Gravitational pulls from planets slowly tug on the individual fragments in different ways, causing the once compact stream to spread out and eventually blend into the background dust filling the solar system.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

Prediction-market operators have been in the middle of a tug of war between state and federal regulators.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

He had already caught several, and a tug of resistance on the line hinted he would get another.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

As I reached for the net, I felt a sharp tug.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo