tug

1 of 3

verb

tugged; tugging

intransitive verb

1
: to pull hard
2
: to struggle in opposition : contend
3
: to exert oneself laboriously : labor

transitive verb

1
: to pull or strain hard at
2
a
: to move by pulling hard : haul
b
: to carry with difficulty : lug
3
: to tow with a tugboat
tugger noun

tug

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: an act or instance of tugging : pull
b
: a strong pulling force
2
a
: a straining effort
b
: a struggle between two people or opposite forces
3
4
b
: a short leather strap or loop
c
: a rope or chain used for pulling

Tug

3 of 3

abbreviation

tugrik, tugriks

Examples of tug in a Sentence

Verb I felt someone tugging on my sleeve. She tugged the cord until the plug came out of the wall socket. Noun He felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. gave the man in front a tug on his shirtsleeve as a sign that he was supposed to step aside
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
My 2024 recap didn't particularly tug at my heartstrings, but maybe Kyu clips would have made more of an impact. Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 11 Dec. 2024 Electrons gently tug on protons in the lattice, drawing them inward to create an excess of positive charge. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
Across its eight tracks, Knox bares all about the intimate lifecycle of her own seven-year relationship through spellbinding vocals that tug at the heartstrings and polished, R&B-leaning production. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 4 Dec. 2024 The dog can sniff around and tug at its leash, but the dog walker is the one setting the pace and direction. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tug 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English tuggen; akin to Old English togian to pull — more at tow

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tug was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tug

Cite this Entry

“Tug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tug. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tug

1 of 2 verb
tugged; tugging
1
a
: to pull hard
b
: to move by pulling hard : drag
2
: to tow with a tugboat
tugger noun

tug

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: an act or instance of tugging : pull
b
: a strong pulling force
2
: a struggle between two people or forces
3

Medical Definition

tug

More from Merriam-Webster on tug

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!