# tow

> English word · Verb · IPA /təʊ/ · frequency rank #10,950

## Definitions
1. To pull something behind one, such as by using a line, chain, or tongue.
2. To aid someone behind by shielding them from wind resistance.

## Etymology
From Middle English towen, from Old English togian, from Proto-West Germanic *togōn, from Proto-Germanic *tugōną, from Proto-Indo-European *dewk-.
See also Middle High German zogen, German ziehen, Dutch tijgen, Old Norse toga.

## Easily confused with
- **TV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tv)
- **TX** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tx)
- **Tu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tu)
- **Ty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-ty)
- **TS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-ts)
- **TT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tt)
- **tp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tp)
- **two** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-two)
- **try** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-try)
- **toy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-toy)
- **tub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tub)
- **tri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tri)
- **tug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tug)
- **TSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tsa)
- **Tue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tue)
- **tre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tre)
- **tra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tra)
- **tum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tum)
- **tru** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tru)
- **tsk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tow-vs-tsk)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tow