Library / English Dictionary

TOWERING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of imposing height; especially standing out above others

Example:

towering icebergs

Synonyms:

eminent; lofty; soaring; towering

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

high ((literal meaning) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like 'knee-high'))

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

-ing form of the verb tower

Credits

 Context examples: 

Because our equator bears the brunt of this sunshine, warm moist air rises (through convection) more freely there, which fuels towering thunderstorms that produce lightning.

(Juno Solves 39-Year Old Mystery of Jupiter Lightning, NASA)

When these ice shelves collapse into the sea, they expose towering cliffs of ice along Antarctica's edge.

(Antarctic ice cliffs may not contribute to ice-sheet instability as much as predicted, National Science Foundation)

At length we saw the numerous steeples of London, St. Paul’s towering above all, and the Tower famed in English history.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

We moved off in silence, and continued to coast round the line of cliffs, which were as even and unbroken as some of those monstrous Antarctic ice-fields which I have seen depicted as stretching from horizon to horizon and towering high above the mast-heads of the exploring vessel.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“You may think what you like,” said I, still in a towering rage.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Then, when he sprang out upon it, it would transform itself into an electric car, menacing and terrible, towering over him like a mountain, screaming and clanging and spitting fire at him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Further out still lay a great merchant-ship, high ended, deep waisted, painted of a canary yellow, and towering above the fishing-boats like a swan among ducklings.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then came two-score more archers, ten more men-at-arms, and finally a rear guard of twenty bowmen, with big John towering in the front rank and the veteran Aylward marching by the side, his battered harness and faded surcoat in strange contrast with the snow-white jupons and shining brigandines of his companions.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The giant Tete-noire, towering above his fellows and clad from head to foot in plate of proof, led on his boarders, waving a huge mace in the air, with which he struck to the deck every man who approached him.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)