tense

1 of 3

adjective

ˈten(t)s 

tenser; tensest

1

: stretched tight : made taut : rigid

tense muscles

2

a

: feeling or showing nervous tension

a tense smile

b

: marked by strain or suspense

a tense thriller

3

: produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state

the vowels \ē\ and \ü\ in contrast with the vowels \i\ and \u̇\ are tense

tensely adverb

tenseness noun

tense

2 of 3

verb

tensed; tensing

transitive verb

: to make tense

intransitive verb

: to become tense

tensed up and missed the putt

tense

3 of 3

noun

1

: a distinction of form in a verb to express distinctions of time or duration of the action or state it denotes

2

a

: a set of inflectional forms of a verb that express distinctions of time

b

: an inflectional form of a verb expressing a specific time distinction

Synonyms

Adjective

• aflutter
• antsy
• anxious
• atwitter
• dithery
• edgy
• goosey
• het up
• hinky [slang]
• hung up
• ill at ease
• insecure
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• nervy
• perturbed
• queasy
• queazy
• troubled
• uneasy
• unquiet
• upset
• uptight
• worried

Verb

• strain
• stretch
• tauten
• tighten

Examples of tense in a Sentence

Adjective

She was feeling pretty tense.

Why are you so tense?

We sat quietly for a few tense moments.

It was a tense meeting.

My calf muscles are really tense.

Verb

She tensed as he walked toward her.

He tensed up and missed the putt.

Noun

The sentence will read better if you change the tense of the verb.

You should avoid changing tense in the middle of a paragraph.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In a business setting, managers must establish norms for their teams in a tense situation. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024

Instead of arguing over who keeps the ring during an already tense time, both parties can refer to the agreement as a predetermined resolution. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

Verb

Starting with your foot, inhale and tense each muscle group hard but not to the point of cramping or straining. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024

Then the phone would ring, and you would be tensed up. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 15 Aug. 2024

Noun

The plans haven’t been scrapped, but Bill Briggs, the dean of academic affairs, talks about them in the past tense. —Matt Krupnick, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2024

In the decades ahead, perhaps China and the United States can likewise work out their own tense but lasting peace. —Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin tensus, from past participle of tendere "to extend outward, stretch, spread out" — more at tender entry 3

Verb

derivative of tense entry 1

Noun

Middle English tens, borrowed from Anglo-French tens, temps "time, moment, season, tense," going back to Latin tempus "period of time, season, tense" — more at tempo

First Known Use

Adjective

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1676, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tense

• future tense
• hyper-tense
• past tense
• perfect tense
• present tense
• progressive tense

Kids Definition

tense

1 of 3 noun

ˈten(t)s 

: a form of a verb used to show the past, present, or future time of the action or state it denotes

tense

2 of 3 adjective

tenser; tensest

1

: stretched tight : made rigid

tense muscles

2

: feeling or showing nervous tension

a tense smile

3

: marked by strain or uncertainty

a tense moment

tensely adverb

tenseness noun

tense

3 of 3 verb

tensed; tensing

: to make or become tense

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tens "time, tense," from early French tens (same meaning), from Latin tempus "time" — related to temporary

Adjective

from Latin tensus "stretched tight," from tendere "to stretch" — related to tender entry 2

Medical Definition

tense

1 of 2 adjective

ˈten(t)s 

tenser; tensest

1

: stretched tight : made taut or rigid

the skeletal musculature involuntarily becomes tense

—H. G. Armstrong

2

: feeling or showing nervous tension

was tense and irritable

tenseness noun

tense

2 of 2 verb

tensed; tensing

transitive verb

: to make tense

tense a muscle

intransitive verb

: to become tense