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
tensed; tensing
: to make tense
: to become tense
tensed up and missed the putt
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
Synonyms
Examples of tense in a Sentence
Adjective
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.
Verb
She tensed as he walked toward her.
He tensed up and missed the putt.
Noun
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 on the Web
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024
And much welcome amid the tense confrontation at the story’s core.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2024
Videos of the protests have shown tense stand-offs between people holding Israeli flags and the pro-Palestinian protesters.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Our interactions are often tense, with disagreements arising over assignments, classroom behavior and communication.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024
Stephanie Rodriguez: Verdict watch for this case was tense … when the jury began to deliberate into a second day, there was some wonder.
—Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
But after the tense exchanges, the judge decided on a new hearing to consider restitution in the future and ordered prosecutors to include the possibility of stripping him of his citizenship in his plea agreement.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
The violence is brutal, whether that’s a tense sniper battle on a country backroad or an explosive final assault in the streets of D.C. War is hell, the film reminds us over and over again.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024
The Univision interview was recorded two days after that strike and the day before Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu had a tense 30-minute phone call.
—Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Roger Cohen, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
If humming doesn’t appeal, try tensing your toes to banish stress instead.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 25 Dec. 2023
These had to be reinforced, and the stunt women tensed by four-way harnesses and aided by a wind-machine at the back of the car so as to stand up at speeds of 120 mph.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Dec. 2023
Set-up: The band should go mid-quad above the knee to tense the legs.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 3 Jan. 2024
According to researchers at the University of Maryland, alternately tensing the toes on each foot then releasing them can help distract the mind from negative thoughts and draw tension away from the rest of your body, enabling you to relax more easily.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 25 Dec. 2023
Servers tensed and hustled as Onwuachi shouted directions and called for extra hands.
—Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023
Medicine ball fight The final ab-conditioning exercise is a bit of a curveball—or medicine ball, to be exact—and involves simply throwing themselves onto medicine balls, tensing the core as much as possible prior to impact.
—Philip Ellis, Men's Health, 13 Aug. 2023
Altruism is a daily practice, a muscle waiting to be tensed and strengthened.
—Lori Keong, ELLE Decor, 12 Apr. 2023
Nick Romano, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2024
And finally, Olivia Rodrigo's viral cherry cola lip brought her would-be classic glamour into the present tense.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2024
In the meantime, the coach is left as something of a lame duck slipping into the past tense to discuss what is still an ongoing situation.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Amazon, however, said the story is inaccurate—in the present tense, at least.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024
When most top athletes retire, the discussion is in the past tense, an assessment of accomplishments and legacies.
—John Branch, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024
That’s perhaps why its founder doesn’t like talking about the Cube in the past tense.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 14 Jan. 2024
Goldman’s Launch With GS website was quietly updated in recent weeks to describe the initiative in the past tense and say that the bank deployed $1 billion to meet its goal.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2024
Anyone can learn how to say the months and days of the week in another language, but learning the intricacies of tenses and grammar draws a very real line in the sand between hobby and life-long commitment.
—Olivia Hart, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2023
Adjective
Since 2009, Taylor Swift and Kanye West have been locked in one of the tensest battles in celebrity history.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024
And much welcome amid the tense confrontation at the story’s core.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2024
Videos of the protests have shown tense stand-offs between people holding Israeli flags and the pro-Palestinian protesters.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Our interactions are often tense, with disagreements arising over assignments, classroom behavior and communication.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024
Stephanie Rodriguez: Verdict watch for this case was tense … when the jury began to deliberate into a second day, there was some wonder.
—Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
But after the tense exchanges, the judge decided on a new hearing to consider restitution in the future and ordered prosecutors to include the possibility of stripping him of his citizenship in his plea agreement.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
The violence is brutal, whether that’s a tense sniper battle on a country backroad or an explosive final assault in the streets of D.C. War is hell, the film reminds us over and over again.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024
The Univision interview was recorded two days after that strike and the day before Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu had a tense 30-minute phone call.
—Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
Four young soldiers looked on, fingers tensed on triggers, as the machine’s claws heaved shattered masonry from clutching mud.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
If humming doesn’t appeal, try tensing your toes to banish stress instead.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 25 Dec. 2023
These had to be reinforced, and the stunt women tensed by four-way harnesses and aided by a wind-machine at the back of the car so as to stand up at speeds of 120 mph.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Dec. 2023
Set-up: The band should go mid-quad above the knee to tense the legs.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 3 Jan. 2024
According to researchers at the University of Maryland, alternately tensing the toes on each foot then releasing them can help distract the mind from negative thoughts and draw tension away from the rest of your body, enabling you to relax more easily.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 25 Dec. 2023
Servers tensed and hustled as Onwuachi shouted directions and called for extra hands.
—Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023
Medicine ball fight The final ab-conditioning exercise is a bit of a curveball—or medicine ball, to be exact—and involves simply throwing themselves onto medicine balls, tensing the core as much as possible prior to impact.
—Philip Ellis, Men's Health, 13 Aug. 2023
Altruism is a daily practice, a muscle waiting to be tensed and strengthened.
—Lori Keong, ELLE Decor, 12 Apr. 2023
Noun
Even writing about him in the past tense doesn’t make sense.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2024
And finally, Olivia Rodrigo's viral cherry cola lip brought her would-be classic glamour into the present tense.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2024
In the meantime, the coach is left as something of a lame duck slipping into the past tense to discuss what is still an ongoing situation.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Amazon, however, said the story is inaccurate—in the present tense, at least.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024
When most top athletes retire, the discussion is in the past tense, an assessment of accomplishments and legacies.
—John Branch, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024
That’s perhaps why its founder doesn’t like talking about the Cube in the past tense.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 14 Jan. 2024
Goldman’s Launch With GS website was quietly updated in recent weeks to describe the initiative in the past tense and say that the bank deployed $1 billion to meet its goal.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2024
Anyone can learn how to say the months and days of the week in another language, but learning the intricacies of tenses and grammar draws a very real line in the sand between hobby and life-long commitment.
—Olivia Hart, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tense.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to tense
Dictionary Entries Near tense
Cite this Entry
“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tense. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tense
1 of 3 noun
: a form of a verb used to show the past, present, or future time of the action or state it denotes
tense
2 of 3 adjective
tenser; tensest
1
: stretched tight : made rigid
tense muscles
2
: feeling or showing nervous tension
a tense smile
3
: marked by strain or uncertainty
a tense moment
tensely
adverb
tenseness
noun
tense
3 of 3 verb
tensed; tensing
: to make or become tense
Etymology
Noun
Middle English tens "time, tense," from early French tens (same meaning), from Latin tempus "time" — related to temporary
Adjective
from Latin tensus "stretched tight," from tendere "to stretch" — related to tender entry 2
Medical Definition
tense
2 of 2 verb
tensed; tensing
: to make tense
tense a muscle
: to become tense
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