tent

noun \ ˈtent \

Definition of tent

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

play \ˈtent-ləs\ adjective

—

tentlike

play \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See tent defined for English-language learners

See tent defined for kids

Examples of tent in a Sentence

a huge tent was erected for the outdoor wedding reception

Recent Examples of tent from the Web

The believers pushed in like a wave that refused to break, packing roadsides and laying in the shade from colorful tents stretched over empty fields.

— kyle swenson, Washington Post, "India’s ‘guru of bling’ convicted of rape," 25 Aug. 2017
In the early 1990s Arpaio directed construction of a tent city for detainees, open to the burning Arizona sun, both to alleviate overcrowding and to underscore his aggressive enforcement measures.

— christina coleman, Essence.com, "Trump Pardons Racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio As Hurricane Barrels Towards Texas," 25 Aug. 2017
For example, the dressing rooms are fashioned after Victorian striped beach cabana tents.

— katelyn chef, Town & Country, "An Exclusive Tour of the KJP Flagship Store," 23 Aug. 2017
On Monday, the AP reported numerous tents were visible on the land, along with provisions including food, water and toilets.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "Pokanoket Nation Sets Up Encampment on Brown University Land," 22 Aug. 2017
Sprinkles gave way to full-on rain, and the stargazers took shelter under tents, umbrellas and ponchos.

— sarah gish, kansascity, "Tourists flock to a Kansas cornfield for the Great American Eclipse," 21 Aug. 2017
The environment was harsh, with constant wind shearing their clutch of tents.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "Record-shattering 2.7-million-year-old ice core reveals start of the ice ages," 15 Aug. 2017
Enjoy a picnic in the park and a playground for kids at Peter Feldman Park from 5 to 11 p.m. The free event includes an artisan food market, food trucks and a full bar tent with craft beer selections and cocktails.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Celebrate end of summer with best events for families this weekend," 9 Aug. 2017
The tent terraine stage space is climate controlled for comfort and can seat 2,600 people.

— philip potempa, Post-Tribune, "Latest Cirque du Soleil show 'Luzia' both dreamy and dazzling," 25 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of tent

Middle English tente, from Anglo-French, from Latin tenta, feminine of tentus, past participle of tendere to stretch — more at thin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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tent Synonyms

Synonyms

awning, ceiling, cover, roof, canopy

Related Words

dome, marquee, pavilion; arbor, bower, pergola; screen, shade, shelter, shield, sunshade, umbrella; canvas (also canvass), fly

tent

verb

Definition of tent

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

Recent Examples of tent from the Web

Leave a Note Shinde is one of Botswana’s iconic luxury tented camps, refurbished in 2015 and located on the edge of the permanent waters of the Okavango Delta.

— Condé Nast Traveler, "Shinde Enclave," 25 Aug. 2017
A rival group, the Worker’s Ex-Servicemen League, Communist vets at odds with Waters’s group, tented at 14th and D streets in Southwest Washington.

— terence mcardle, Washington Post, "The veterans were desperate. Gen. MacArthur ordered U.S. troops to attack them.," 28 July 2017
Outside, two tented stages will provide three days of musical performances.

— melinda morris, NOLA.com, "Satchmo SummerFest announces lineup and a dance room with A/C," 27 June 2017
Sherwood’s home has been tented so that sulfuryl fluoride, a poisonous, odorless gas, can be sprayed inside.

— bill hanna, star-telegram, "Exterminating rare termites in Fort Worth home takes extreme measures," 27 June 2017
The design is suspended 30 feet above ground and features tented structures atop a mesh platform.

— elizabeth stamp, CNN, "The architects throwing out the rulebook on hotel design," 15 June 2017
One morning this week, Markowski watched workers hoeing the rich soil between rows of tobacco beneath acres of tenting on his family's West Suffield farm.

— gregory b. hladky, courant.com, "Foreign Competition, Labor Costs Push Connecticut Shade Tobacco Farmers To The Edge," 15 June 2017
Like Top Gear, the car segments are filmed around the world, along with the addition of audience segments, thanks to the show's mobile tented studio.

— jayme deerwester, USA TODAY, "'Grand Tour' host Richard Hammond escapes fiery crash in Switzerland," 10 June 2017
The 37,000-acre spread will open its sixth tented camp, North Bank Camp, on the Blackfoot River this month.

— compiled by elaine glusac, star-telegram.com, "Where to travel now if you’re yearning to explore the great outdoors," 7 June 2017

First Known Use of tent

circa 1608

tent

verb

Definition of tent

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

:to attend to

Recent Examples of tent from the Web

Leave a Note Shinde is one of Botswana’s iconic luxury tented camps, refurbished in 2015 and located on the edge of the permanent waters of the Okavango Delta.

— Condé Nast Traveler, "Shinde Enclave," 25 Aug. 2017
A rival group, the Worker’s Ex-Servicemen League, Communist vets at odds with Waters’s group, tented at 14th and D streets in Southwest Washington.

— terence mcardle, Washington Post, "The veterans were desperate. Gen. MacArthur ordered U.S. troops to attack them.," 28 July 2017
Outside, two tented stages will provide three days of musical performances.

— melinda morris, NOLA.com, "Satchmo SummerFest announces lineup and a dance room with A/C," 27 June 2017
Sherwood’s home has been tented so that sulfuryl fluoride, a poisonous, odorless gas, can be sprayed inside.

— bill hanna, star-telegram, "Exterminating rare termites in Fort Worth home takes extreme measures," 27 June 2017
The design is suspended 30 feet above ground and features tented structures atop a mesh platform.

— elizabeth stamp, CNN, "The architects throwing out the rulebook on hotel design," 15 June 2017
One morning this week, Markowski watched workers hoeing the rich soil between rows of tobacco beneath acres of tenting on his family's West Suffield farm.

— gregory b. hladky, courant.com, "Foreign Competition, Labor Costs Push Connecticut Shade Tobacco Farmers To The Edge," 15 June 2017
Like Top Gear, the car segments are filmed around the world, along with the addition of audience segments, thanks to the show's mobile tented studio.

— jayme deerwester, USA TODAY, "'Grand Tour' host Richard Hammond escapes fiery crash in Switzerland," 10 June 2017
The 37,000-acre spread will open its sixth tented camp, North Bank Camp, on the Blackfoot River this month.

— compiled by elaine glusac, star-telegram.com, "Where to travel now if you’re yearning to explore the great outdoors," 7 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of tent

Middle English, from tent attention, short for attent, from Anglo-French atente, from atendre to attend

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

TENT Defined for English Language Learners

tent

noun

Definition of tent for English Language Learners

: a portable shelter that is used outdoors, is made of cloth (such as canvas or nylon), and is held up with poles and ropes

TENT Defined for Kids

tent

noun \ ˈtent \

Definition of tent for Students

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

Word Root of tent

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.