tackle

1 of 3

noun (1)

tack·​le ˈta-kəl 

nautical often

ˈtā- 

1

: a set of the equipment used in a particular activity : gear

fishing tackle

2

a

: a ship's rigging

b

: an assemblage of ropes and pulleys arranged to gain mechanical advantage for hoisting and pulling

3

a

: the act or an instance of tackling

b(1)

: either of two offensive football players positioned on each side of the center and between guard and end

(2)

: either of two football players positioned on the inside of a defensive line

Illustration of tackle

• tackle 2b

tackle

2 of 3

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

tackler

3 of 3

noun (2)

tack·​ler -k(ə)lə(r) 

plural -s

: one that tackles: such as

a

British : loomfixer

b

British : an attendant of a machine for making paper bags

c

: one that tackles an opponent in a sport (such as wrestling or football)

shook off half a dozen tacklers to crash over the goal line

—New York Times

Synonyms of tackle

Noun (1)

• equipment
• gear
• material(s)
• stuff
• apparatus
• kit

Verb

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

Examples of tackle in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a box for fishing tackle

He made two tackles in the first half.

Verb

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

Noun

Even players who should play Sunday — like quarterback Bryce Young (knee) and offensive tackle Monroe Freeling (concussion protocol) — are hurting. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026

Crosby primarily lines up on the left side of the defense, which means his matchup will mostly be with right tackle Jaylon Moore. — Pete Sweeney october 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

But even with an issue that’s garnered significant bipartisan support, Congress has still struggled to tackle it in recent years. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

After five shootings in less than a week left at least 46 people dead, South Africa is wrestling with how to tackle a spike in gun crime that threatens to undo recent progress in reducing its notoriously high murder rate. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English takel; akin to Middle Dutch takel ship's rigging

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

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