tilt

1 of 4

verb (1)

tilted; tilting; tilts

transitive verb

1
: to cause to have an inclination
2
a
: to point or thrust in or as if in a tilt
tilt a lance
b
: to charge against
tilt an adversary

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move or shift so as to lean or incline : slant
b
: to incline, tend, or become drawn toward an opinion, course of action, or one side of a controversy
2
a
: to engage in a combat with lances : joust
b
: to make an impetuous attack
tilt at social evils
tiltable adjective
tilter noun

tilt

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: the act of tilting : the state or position of being tilted
b
: a sloping surface
c
: slant, bias
a tilt toward military involvement
2
3
: any of various contests resembling or suggesting tilting with lances
4
a
: a contest on horseback in which two combatants charging with lances or similar weapons try to unhorse each other : joust
b
: a tournament of tilts
tilt adjective

tilt

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a canopy for a wagon, boat, or stall

tilt

4 of 4

verb (2)

tilted; tilting; tilts

transitive verb

: to cover or provide with a tilt

Examples of tilt in a Sentence

Verb (1) the robin tilts its head as it hunts for worms in the grass Noun (1) indicated her approval with a slight tilt of her head
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The Earth is tilted approximately 23.5 degrees on its axis. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024 This feature was a key factor in the most recent accident in October, when a Japanese self-defense forces Osprey abruptly tilted and struck the ground during takeoff. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Noun
New in this generation is tilt detection, which makes the pen strokes for aspiring artists a bit more natural. Ben Sin, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 There’s been a lot of hand-wringing over New York City’s tilt toward Trump in November. John Surico, Curbed, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tilt 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1) and Noun (1)

Middle English tulten, tilten to fall over, cause to fall, from Old English *tyltan, *tieltan, akin to Old English tealt unstable, tealtian to totter

Noun (2)

Middle English teld, telte tent, canopy, from Old English teld; akin to Old High German zelt tent

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1594, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1507, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tilt was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tilt

Cite this Entry

“Tilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tilt. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tilt

1 of 2 verb
1
: to move or shift so as to slant or tip
2
: to take part in a contest with lances : joust
tilter noun

tilt

2 of 2 noun
1
: a contest on horseback in which two opponents charging with lances try to unhorse each other : joust
2
: a contest with words between opponents
3
: speed entry 1 sense 1b
at full tilt
4
: the act of tilting : the state or position of being tilted

More from Merriam-Webster on tilt

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