tagalong

1 of 2

noun

tag·​along ˈta-gə-ˌlȯŋ 

: one that persistently and often annoyingly follows the lead of another

tag along

2 of 2

verb

tagged along; tagging along; tags along

intransitive verb

: to follow another's lead especially in going from one place to another

Examples of tagalong in a Sentence

Noun

His little sister was sometimes a tagalong on his outings with his friends.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While there is no official bed bug season, August through October often see an uptick in infestations as those summer tagalongs find new homes and head off to dorm rooms alongside college students. —John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 12 June 2024

Propelled by manic charisma, Ike careens around the New York City streets with Marty as his tagalong. —Erin Qualey, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2021

Verb

At Ecorse Creek, tagging along with the firefighters and the riverkeeper was Bryon Frady, of Melvindale, retired after 34 years in his family’s package delivery business, now obsessed with pulling junk from rivers. —Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024

Coco tags along for the ride in an attempt to return her niece’s teddy bear, despite her driver’s pleas to stay home. —Carrie Wittmer, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1935, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1900, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tagalong

1 of 2 noun

tag·​along ˈtag-ə-ˌlȯŋ 

: one that tags along

tag along

2 of 2 verb

ˌtag-ə-ˈlȯŋ

: to follow another's lead especially in going from one place to another