tilt

1 of 6

verb (1)

ˈtilt 

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

ˈtil-tə-bəl 

adjective

tilter noun

tilt

2 of 6

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

a

: speed see also full tilt

b

: dispute, contention

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 6

noun (2)

: a canopy for a wagon, boat, or stall

tilt

4 of 6

verb (2)

tilted; tilting; tilts

transitive verb

: to cover or provide with a tilt

tilter

5 of 6

noun (3)

tilt·​er

ˈtiltə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that tilts: such as

a

: jouster

b

: a workman who operates a helve hammer

c

: a workman who tilts out coal

d

: a contrivance for emptying something (as a barrel or carboy) by tilting

e

: a contrivance for varying the pitch of something (as the slats of a venetian blind)

f

: tilt sense 6

2

a

: spotted sandpiper

b

: solitary sandpiper

c

: avocet

tilter

6 of 6

intransitive verb

"

-ed/-ing/-s

: to swing up and down : seesaw, teeter

Synonyms of tilt

Verb (1)

• slope
• angle
• lean
• tip

Noun (1)

• tip
• bend
• inclination
• angling

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

Verb

When that income stream is smaller, less secure, or more burdened by caregiving obligations, the optimal portfolio tilts toward safety. —Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

The whole box tilts itself vertically to let folding micro-LED panels emerge and flatten completely while the high-quality speaker system unpacks itself. —New Atlas, 13 June 2026

Noun

The stand is heavy and sturdy, and the tilt of the table can be adjusted, as can the height. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 12 June 2026

Continue boiling at a moderately steady rate, stirring occasionally, until thermometer registers 230°F (tilt pan as needed so syrup covers bulb of thermometer for an accurate reading). —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1), Noun (1), and Noun (3)

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

Intransitive verb

frequentative of tilt entry 1

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

Phrases Containing tilt

• at full tilt
• full tilt
• shift/tip/tilt the balance of power
• tilt at
• tilt at windmills
• tilt-rotor

Rhymes for tilt

• built
• gilt
• guilt
• hilt
• kilt
• lilt
• milt
• quilt
• silt
• spilt
• stilt
• wilt

Kids Definition

tilt

1 of 2 verb

ˈtilt 

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