: a strongly built powerful boat used for towing and pushing
called also towboat
Examples of tugboat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The most powerful electric tugboat in the world has successfully completed sea trials and is not set to enter service to cut towing emissions by up to 90 percent.
—
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
One was heavy enough to secure the tugboat; Lind sold it to Danielson for the price of the raw iron.
—Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
Experts then came up with a sophisticated plan to use air cushions to lift the animal onto a tarp, which would have been secured to two pontoons and attached to a tugboat.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
Seven years later —after Austin had successfully become a tugboat captain —a moment waiting in line with other struggling parents changed everything.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tugboat
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Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
One was heavy enough to secure the tugboat; Lind sold it to Danielson for the price of the raw iron.
—Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
Experts then came up with a sophisticated plan to use air cushions to lift the animal onto a tarp, which would have been secured to two pontoons and attached to a tugboat.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
Seven years later —after Austin had successfully become a tugboat captain —a moment waiting in line with other struggling parents changed everything.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tugboat
Cite this Entry
“Tugboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tugboat. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tugboat
noun
tug·boat
ˈtəg-ˌbōt 
: a strongly built powerful boat used for towing and pushing ships
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