plural tensions
1
a
: a feeling of nervousness that makes you unable to relax
You can see she is just filled with tension about her job.
b
: a feeling of nervousness, excitement, or fear that is created in a movie, book, etc.
The dramatic tension was very satisfying.
The author resolves the tension too soon.
2
: a state in which people, groups, countries, etc., disagree with and feel anger toward each other
Political tensions in the region make it unstable.
Do you sense the tension between those two?
There was a lot of tension at the meeting.
The book describes the tension-filled days before the war.
3
: a difficult situation caused by the opposite needs or effects of two different ideas, desires, etc.
He felt a tension between duty and love.
There will always be some tension between the desire to reduce risk and the desire to make as much money as possible.
4
: the degree to which something is stretched : the amount that something is stretched
I don't like the tension on this tennis racket.
muscle tension [=tightness]
She has a lot of tension in her shoulders.
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/tension. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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