tent

1 of 3

noun

ˈtent 

1

: a collapsible shelter of fabric (such as nylon or canvas) stretched and sustained by poles and used for camping outdoors or as a temporary building

2

: dwelling

3

a

: something that resembles a tent or that serves as a shelter

especially : a canopy or enclosure placed over the head and shoulders to retain vapors or oxygen being medically administered

b

: the web of a tent caterpillar

tentless

ˈtent-ləs 

adjective

tentlike

ˈtent-ˌlīk 

adjective

tent

2 of 3

verb (1)

tented; tenting; tents

intransitive verb

1

: to reside for the time being : lodge

2

: to live in a tent

transitive verb

1

: to cover with or as if with a tent

2

: to lodge in tents

tent

3 of 3

verb (2)

tented; tenting; tents

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

: to attend to

Synonyms

Noun

• roof
• canopy

Examples of tent in a Sentence

Noun

a huge tent was erected for the outdoor wedding reception

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Back in the bamboo and tarpaulin tents which blanket the hillsides of Cox’s Bazar, refugee Mariam Khatun dresses her three small children and prepares a meal – these daily tasks the only thing keeping her going since the death of her eldest daughter, Estafa. —Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025

Trump had argued a permanent ballroom was long needed because rooms weren't big enough inside the White House and tents set up on the south lawn often left guests with soggy feet. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025

Verb

Luxury tented camp Our Habitas Atacama arrived in 2023, and Abercrombie & Kent partnered with Nayara on an experience-rich exclusive camp, hosting no more than six guests per night (September to March). —Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025

Using tongs, transfer chicken to serving platter and tent with aluminum foil. —Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tent, tente "collapsible shelter of animal skins or fabric used by nomads, shelter, dwelling," borrowed from Anglo-French tente, going back to Vulgar Latin *tenta, noun derivative from feminine of Latin tentus, tensus, past participle of tendere "to extend outward, stretch" (or from Vulgar Latin *tendita, re-formation of the participle) — more at tender entry 3

Verb (1)

derivative of tent entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English tenten "to look after, see to, watch over," noun derivative of tent, tente "intention, purpose, heed," short for entente, intente intent entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

circa 1608, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tent

• bender tent
• forest tent caterpillar
• oxygen tent
• pitch a/the tent
• pup tent
• shelter tent
• tent caterpillar
• tent city
• tent peg
• tent stitch

Rhymes for tent

• bent
• blent
• cent
• ent
• fent
• lent
• meant
• pent
• rent
• rente
• scent
• sent

Kids Definition

tent

1 of 2 noun

ˈtent 

1

: a portable shelter (as of nylon) stretched and supported by poles

2

a

: something that resembles a tent or that serves as a shelter

especially : an enclosure placed over the head and shoulders to hold in oxygen or vapors given for medical reasons

an oxygen tent

b

: the web of a tent caterpillar

tent

2 of 2 verb

1

: to live in a tent

2

: to cover with or as if with a tent

Medical Definition

tent

noun

ˈtent 

: a canopy or enclosure placed over the head and shoulders to retain vapors or oxygen during medical administration