taut

play

adjective \ˈtȯt\

Definition of taut

1a : having no give or slack : tightly drawn a taut ropeb : high-strung, tense taut nerves
2a : kept in proper order or condition a taut shipb (1) : not loose or flabby taut muscles (2) : marked by economy of structure and detail a taut story

tautly

adverb

tautness

noun

See taut defined for English-language learners

See taut defined for kids

Examples of taut in a Sentence

The rope was drawn taut.
The book is a taut thriller.

Recent Examples of taut from the Web

Keeping a taut tension between genre and realism for most of its running time, this exciting but uneven thriller runs out of dynamite in the last reel.

— deborah young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Explosion': Film Review | Shanghai 2017", 1 July 2017
Fulmer’s talent for joking and smiling during a taut game allows him to forget about his own mistakes and keep plowing.

— shawn windsor, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer providing fans hope in down year", 29 June 2017
Michael Bay’s latest explosive offering wants to be everything—a medieval romp, an outer-space spectacle, a taut action-thriller.

— vanityfair.com, "TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT", 20 June 2017
Michael Bay’s latest explosive offering wants to be everything—a medieval romp, an outer-space spectacle, a taut action-thriller.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Transformers: The Last Knight Is a Million God-Awful Movies Crammed Into One", 20 June 2017
Its story is a grim one — a serial killer is raping and murdering elderly women — but this taut Spanish-language crime drama, directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, is utterly gripping, particularly the performances by its central acting duo.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "SIFF 2017: Highlights of the film festival’s third week", 31 May 2017
The sausage, made by the Cajun chef Alex Patout, came split the long way, with a taut, strong skin and a sharp, peppery bite.

— brett anderson, NOLA.com, "The future of New Orleans barbecue arrived in 2004", 23 May 2017
Kym Pappas directs InnerMission’s production of the taut two-hander, which stars Jyl Kaneshiro and Carla Nell (the theater’s co-artistic director).

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "In the wings: 'Gidion's Knot' at InnerMission", 23 May 2017
The tightrope Trump faces in Saudi Arabia is taut with subtlety and context.

— nic robertson, CNN, "Trump will fit in well with the Middle East strongmen", 19 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'taut'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of taut

Middle English tought, perhaps from tought, toughth fierce, tough, alteration of tough tough

NEW!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

taut

verb

Definition of taut

Scotland

transitive verb
: mat, tangle

Origin and Etymology of taut

origin unknown

NEW!

First Known Use: 1721

See Words from the same year

taut-

combining form

variants: or

tauto-

Definition of taut-

: same tautomerism tautonym

Origin and Etymology of taut-

Late Latin, from Greek, from tauto the same, contraction of to auto

TAUT Defined for English Language Learners

taut

play

adjective

Definition of taut for English Language Learners

: very tight from being pulled or stretched : not loose or slack
: firm and strong : not loose or flabby
: very tense

TAUT Defined for Kids

taut

play

adjective \ˈtȯt\

Definition of taut for Students

tauter

;

tautest

1 : tightly stretched The rope was pulled taut.
2 : very tense Will waited, suddenly taut with excitement. — Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising
3 : firm and not flabby taut muscles