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

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
But Putin undoubtedly has reaped the rewards of a political landscape tilted dramatically in his favor. Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 The stand tilts 40 degrees to offer several positioning options, while the keyboard uses smart technology to connect—no Bluetooth required. Tanya Edwards, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 There’s a sentiment within the league that the NBA has tilted the rules and their enforcement too far in the direction of scoring. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 The school is their safe haven from a neighborhood that tilts toward instability. Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2024 For example, at Harvard, legacy preferences tilt the playing field in favor of white students — 76% of legacy applicants and 77% of legacy admits at Harvard were white. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The decision delivered a genuine jolt to a Senate landscape that was already heavily tilted toward Republicans in 2024. Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Anker’s Eufy brand has started shipping a new 4K security camera that should offer 360-degree views, panning 344 degrees and tilting up to 70 degrees. Quentyn Kennemer, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2024 Fountain Hills:Town council's new conservative ideology tilts against local pragmatism Cap and Culp also alleged that Skillicorn is not legally allowed to block users from his social media accounts. Lux Butler, The Arizona Republic, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
This fade-resistant canopy adds a burst of color to your patio, provides ample shade from the sun's rays, and features an easy-open crank mechanism and a convenient three-way tilt. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2024 Gains and losses are marked more by the tilts of the Maldives’ own politicians — more pro-India at some points, more pro-China at others — and, most of all, by the money that both sides spend to win Maldivian hearts and minds. Maahil Mohamed Elke Scholiers, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 But Mitchell and other political analysts say in the new vote-by-mail landscape much remains unclear about how early voting impacts turnout and partisan tilt in elections. John Woolfolk, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024 In fetal surgery, the slightest squeeze or tilt of a scalpel can be the difference between life and death. Megan Molteni, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 And under the Evers map now in effect, six of those 16 districts have a strong GOP tilt. Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2024 Coming off back-to-back road losses against two of the Mountain West’s best, a week with no games and then a home tilt vs. a team in the bottom half of the league was just what the doctor ordered for Boise State. Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 18 Feb. 2024 This enables easy adjustment of the angle of the screen, including the height and tilt. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 The all-star forward was 12th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (43.7) ahead of Thursday’s tilt in Milwaukee. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tilt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 28 Mar. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!