: a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially in carbide materials and electrical components (such as lamp filaments) and in hardening alloys (such as steel) see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of tungsten in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The eastern Congo region in particular has many valuable resources, including rare minerals such as tantalum and tungsten.
—
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
The country controls 80% of the tungsten supply chain.
—Evelyn Cheng,anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 June 2025
The researchers then coupled that rod to another one, also made of tungsten but much longer, allowing each moth to fly in any direction while an optical sensor detected exactly where the insect was going, relative to north, every five seconds.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
About 2 kilograms of tungsten is typically used in each electric car battery, said Michael Dornhofer, founder of metals consulting firm Independent Supply Business Partner.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tungsten
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.
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
The country controls 80% of the tungsten supply chain.
—Evelyn Cheng,anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 June 2025
The researchers then coupled that rod to another one, also made of tungsten but much longer, allowing each moth to fly in any direction while an optical sensor detected exactly where the insect was going, relative to north, every five seconds.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
About 2 kilograms of tungsten is typically used in each electric car battery, said Michael Dornhofer, founder of metals consulting firm Independent Supply Business Partner.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tungsten
Cite this Entry
“Tungsten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tungsten. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Etymology
from Swedish tungsten, literally "heavy stone," from tung "heavy" and sten "stone"
Medical Definition
tungsten
noun
tung·sten
ˈtəŋ-stən 
: a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially for electrical purposes and in hardening alloys (as steel)
—symbol W
called also wolfram
see Chemical Elements TableLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share