taut

1 of 3

adjective

ˈtȯt 

1

a

: having no give or slack : tightly drawn

a taut rope

b

: high-strung, tense

taut nerves

2

a

: kept in proper order or condition

a taut ship

b(1)

: not loose or flabby

taut skin

(2)

: marked by economy of structure and detail

a taut story

tautly adverb

tautness noun

taut

2 of 3

verb

tauted; tauting; tauts

transitive verb

Scotland

: mat, tangle

taut-

3 of 3

combining form

variants or tauto-

: same

tautomerism

tautonym

Synonyms

Adjective

• rigid
• tense
• tight

Examples of taut in a Sentence

Adjective

The rope was drawn taut.

The book is a taut thriller.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The direction is taut as ever in an Eastwood film, and the performances are good. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2024

Make sure ties are taut so tiny fingers can’t reach what’s inside. 5. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2024

At 73, Sting still cuts a perfect rock star pose while hugging his bass, his taut muscles peeking out from the sleeves of his white and gray T-shirt, his charisma and intellect forming the perfect collision. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024

Take the squat, for example: The band is the most taut at the top of the squat—the portion of the move where people tend to be the strongest—and, vice versa, has the most slack at the bottom, where people are most likely to struggle, Dr. Reiner says. —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English tought, perhaps from tought, toughth fierce, tough, alteration of tough tough

Verb

origin unknown

Combining form

Late Latin, from Greek, from tauto the same, contraction of to auto

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(1)

Verb

1721, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

taut

adjective

ˈtȯt

1

a

: drawn to the limit : not slack

taut rope

b

: high-strung, tense

taut nerves

2

: kept in proper order or condition

a taut ship

tautly adverb

tautness noun