tackle

verb

tackled; tackling ˈta-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to seize, take hold of, or grapple with especially with the intention of stopping or subduing

b

: to seize and throw down or stop (an opposing player with the ball) in football

2

: to set about dealing with

tackle the problem

3

: to attach or secure with or as if with tackle

intransitive verb

: to tackle an opposing player in football

tackler

ˈta-k(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms of tackle

• undertake
• approach
• address
• wade (in or into)
• attack
• dive (into)
• have at
• pursue

Examples of tackle in a Sentence

The police officer tackled him as he tried to escape.

He was tackled at the line of scrimmage.

I'll tackle my homework later.

We found new ways to tackle the problem.

Recent Examples on the Web

It is expected that Mourinho will try to tighten control over leaks concerning internal dressing-room matters, something that has irritated the club this season — and which Alonso sought to tackle. —Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 29 May 2026

An officer then tackles one of the men. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 29 May 2026

But a growing number of college presidents are beginning to develop faculty institutes that train professors on how to create climates of openness that can absorb students’ discomfort and disagreement, as well as direct students to tackle real-world problems together. —Rajiv Vinnakota, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

The bar was set high from here, but even the best Bond games have only superficially tackled the essence of the spy fantasy. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing tackle

• block and tackle
• gang-tackle
• nose tackle

Rhymes for tackle

• cackle
• crackle
• hackle
• jackal
• shackle
• vakil
• demoniacal
• ramshackle
• tabernacle
• zodiacal

Kids Definition

tackle

1 of 2 noun

tack·​le ˈtak-əl 

nautical often

ˈtāk- 

1

: a set of special equipment : gear

fishing tackle

2

: an arrangement of ropes and wheels for hoisting or pulling something heavy

3

a

: the act or an instance of tackling

b

: a football player who is positioned on the line of scrimmage and inside the ends

tackle

2 of 2 verb

tackled; tackling ˈtak-(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to seize or take hold of especially in order to stop or throw down

2

: to set about dealing with

tackle a problem

tackler

-(ə-)lər 

noun