tense

adjective \ ˈten(t)s \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Examples: tense in a Sentence

Definition of tense

tenser; tensest

1 : stretched tight : made taut : rigid

tense muscles

2 a : feeling or showing nervous tension

a tense smile

b : marked by strain or suspense

a tense thriller

3 : produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state

the vowels \ē\ and \ü\ in contrast with the vowels \i\ and \u̇\ are tense

—

tensely

adverb

—

tenseness

noun

See tense defined for English-language learners

Examples of tense in a Sentence

She was feeling pretty tense.
Why are you so tense?
We sat quietly for a few tense moments.
It was a tense meeting.
My calf muscles are really tense.

Recent Examples of tense from the Web

Trump’s announcement of the tariffs on Friday followed weeks of tense and ultimately unsuccessful negotiations towards a new trade agreement between the two countries.

— chas danner, Daily Intelligencer, "China Retaliates With New Tariffs as Trump’s Trade War Escalates," 16 June 2018
There is no obvious way out of their current showdown, which made for a tense and turbulent week in Berlin.

— katrin bennhold, New York Times, "German Hard-Liners Want to Close Borders, Threatening Merkel Coalition," 15 June 2018
Trump is also apparently not looking forward to what could be a tense and awkward meeting.

— zeeshan aleem, Vox, "The G7 summit: Trump vs. the world," 7 June 2018
The decision to go to the emergency room can be tense and full of uncertainty from a medical perspective.

— erik j. blutinger, Philly.com, "An E.R. doctor on 'surprise billing' for emergency care," 5 June 2018
Swatting incidents, which can result in tense and dangerous standoffs between police and confused residents, have led to at least one death, leading some to call for laws that would explicitly ban the practice.

— alana abramson, Time, "Parkland Survivor David Hogg's Family Home Was 'Swatted'," 5 June 2018
The sight of a police car at night still makes her body tense and her heart pound.

— marisa gerber, latimes.com, "Former Monterey Park officer sentenced to nearly 8 years in prison for sexually assaulting women in traffic stops," 5 June 2018
In previous years, the England squad has looked tense and nervous while balancing the nation's hopes on their collective shoulders, but Southgate doesn't want that for his side this summer.

— SI.com, "'I Enjoy Every Minute': Jesse Lingard Loving Life Under Three Lions' Manager Gareth Southgate," 2 June 2018
The lead-up to that occupation was tense and chaotic, as Kneale portrays vividly in his book's strongest chapter.

— steve donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Rome' tells the story of the Eternal City through seven moments of defeat," 1 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of tense

Latin tensus, from past participle of tendere to stretch — more at thin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1668

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

tense Synonyms

Phrases

keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks;

tense

verb

Definition of tense

tensed; tensing

transitive verb

: to make tense

intransitive verb

: to become tense

tensed up and missed the putt

See tense defined for English-language learners

Examples of tense in a Sentence

She tensed as he walked toward her.
He tensed up and missed the putt.

Recent Examples of tense from the Web

Imagine the scene: Arms tensed, bow flexed, a hunter on the African savanna draws in a slow breath as his prey moves into view.

— nathaniel scharping, Discover Magazine, "Beyond the Condom," 11 May 2018
Castillo Laffita and Marcel Mendez also begin to tense up.

— jeffrey gantz, BostonGlobe.com, "DanzAbierta’s ‘MalSon’ evokes contemporary Havana," 17 Mar. 2018
The alliance has tensed relations between Washington and Ankara, who are NATO allies.

— Washington Post, "Syrian Kurdish leader detained in Prague on Turkey’s request," 7 Mar. 2018
But the team has tensed up during crucial moments in recent games at Smoothie King Center, which has frustrated both fans and players alike.

— william guillory, NOLA.com, "5 things the Pelicans need to fix to make the playoffs," 2 Apr. 2018
The alliance has tensed relations between Washington and Ankara, who are NATO allies.

— Washington Post, "Syrian Kurdish leader detained in Prague on Turkey’s request," 7 Mar. 2018
Hold for 10 seconds, then tense the muscles being stretched.

— woman's day staff, Woman's Day, "5 Stretches to Beat Back Pain," 2 July 2011
No one tensed when Washington center Evgeny Kuznetsov scored two power play goals after Anderson’s penalty; the Blue Jackets simply returned from intermission and killed the remaining 2:23 left on his major.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "Despite Injuries and Penalties, Blue Jackets Prove Resilient in OT Win Against Capitals," 13 Apr. 2018
Utley tensed his leg and let the ball connect with his right foot.

— andy mccullough, latimes.com, "Dodgers veteran Chase Utley a shoo-in for the Hall of Pain as he awaits 200th pitch to hit him," 9 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of tense

1676

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

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tense Synonyms

Synonyms

strain, stretch, tauten, tighten;

Antonyms

loosen, slack, slacken;

Near Antonyms

ease, relax;

Related Words

elongate, extend, lengthen;

cinch, constrict;

tense

noun

Definition of tense

1 : a distinction of form in a verb to express distinctions of time or duration of the action or state it denotes

2 a : a set of inflectional forms of a verb that express distinctions of time

b : an inflectional form of a verb expressing a specific time distinction

See tense defined for English-language learners

See tense defined for kids

Examples of tense in a Sentence

The sentence will read better if you change the tense of the verb.
You should avoid changing tense in the middle of a paragraph.

Recent Examples of tense from the Web

The situation could get more tense, Young said, as the pups in the newest litter reach six to eight weeks of age and begin traveling with the adults around the park.

— peter fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle, "Coyote alert: SF is home to seven new pups in the Presidio," 4 June 2018
At the beginning of the summer, these 16-year-olds walk into the classroom tense and uncertain (the classrooms are inside some of the top companies and colleges in America).

— christina lewis, The Root, "Change Your Life by Celebrating Failure," 19 Mar. 2018
Then a muscle running forward from the tip of one rib to the skin tenses to pull the skeleton and body forward over the skin.

— james gorman, New York Times, "How the Snake Pours Its Way Across the Ground," 6 Feb. 2018
Relations have long been tense between the United States and Venezuela, an oil-rich country in a deepening political and economic crisis.

— Washington Post, "Top US diplomat in Venezuela under fire for tough comments," 22 Feb. 2018
For example, an officer may notice a suspect tense up and have to react.

— forrest sellers, Cincinnati.com, "Delhi police officers now using body cameras," 21 Feb. 2018
And that was the small stuff, the petty offenses; as swiftly excused as are improper tenses.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "'A Christmas in need of coal' | A holiday poem from Tim Sullivan," 24 Dec. 2017
Relations have often been tense between the two countries since the genocide.

— kieron monks, CNN, "French officials accused of 'complicity' in Rwanda genocide," 13 Dec. 2017
Clinton is eternally in the plural tense, just like Kennedy or Bush.

— alexander nazaryan, Newsweek, "Democrats Ignored Bill Clinton’s Mistreatment of Women, and President Trump Is Their Punishment," 29 Nov. 2017

Origin and Etymology of tense

Middle English tens time, tense, from Anglo-French, from Latin tempus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

TENSE Defined for English Language Learners

tense

noun

Definition of tense for English Language Learners

grammar : a form of a verb that is used to show when an action happened

tense

adjective

Definition of tense for English Language Learners

: nervous and not able to relax
: showing or causing nervousness
: not relaxed but hard and tight

tense

verb

Definition of tense for English Language Learners

: to make (a muscle) hard and tight
: to become nervous or tense

TENSE Defined for Kids

tense

noun \ ˈtens \

Definition of tense for Students

: a form of a verb used to show the time of the action or state

tense

adjective

Definition of tense for Students

tenser; tensest

1 : feeling or showing worry or nervousness : not relaxed

a tense smile

2 : marked by strain or uncertainty

a tense moment

3 : stretched tight

tense muscles

—

tensely

adverb

—

tenseness

noun

Word Root of tense

The Latin word tendere, meaning to “stretch” or “to spread,” and its form tentus give us the roots tend, tent, and tens. Words from the Latin tendere have something to do with stretching or spreading. A tent is a temporary shelter made from stretched out fabric. To distend is to stretch outward and swell in all directions. To extend is to stretch out. A tendon is a cord that connects a muscle to another muscle or to a bone and that stretches allowing a joint to bend. Something tense is stretched tight.

tense

verb

Definition of tense for Students

tensed; tensing

1 : to make or become worried or nervous

She tensed as the deadline grew near.

2 : to make (a muscle) hard and tight

She tensed her shoulders.

Medical Dictionary

tense

adjective \ ˈten(t)s \

medical Definition of tense

tenser; tensest

1 : stretched tight : made taut or rigid

the skeletal musculature involuntarily becomes tense
—H. G. Armstrong

2 : feeling or showing nervous tension

was tense and irritable

—

tenseness

noun

tense

verb

medical Definition of tense

tensed; tensing

transitive verb

: to make tense

tense a muscle

intransitive verb

: to become tense

Learn More about tense

See words that rhyme with tense Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tense Spanish Central: Translation of tense Nglish: Translation of tense for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tense for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tense

Seen and Heard

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tense

Definition of tense

tensely

tenseness

Examples of tense in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tense from the Web

Origin and Etymology of tense

tense Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

tense

Definition of tense

Examples of tense in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tense from the Web

First Known Use of tense

tense Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

tense

Definition of tense

Examples of tense in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tense from the Web

Origin and Etymology of tense

Phrases Related to TENSE

Related Phrases

TENSE Defined for English Language Learners

tense

Definition of tense for English Language Learners

tense

Definition of tense for English Language Learners

tense

Definition of tense for English Language Learners

TENSE Defined for Kids

tense

Definition of tense for Students

tense

Definition of tense for Students

tensely

tenseness

Word Root of tense

tense

Definition of tense for Students

Medical Dictionary

tense

medical Definition of tense

tenseness

tense

medical Definition of tense

Learn More about tense

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