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

Neuromodulators, the injectable treatment that relaxes muscles in order to keep them taut and unmoveable, are extremely effective at smoothing out the look and feel of wrinkles. —Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 26 Nov. 2024

Alexander isn’t opposed to showing the occasional rippling bicep or taut pectoral but declines to go the full monty. —Andrew Rummer, WIRED, 19 Oct. 2024

Holding skin taut, glide tool across damp skin, treating each area no more than twice. —Emily Orofino, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024

The veteran prestige-TV drama director Michael Dinner (who had previously worked with Silo creator Graham Yost on Justified) and the show’s crew keep the action taut, tense, and easy to follow as Juliette survives several potentially fatal setbacks and just keeps going. —Noel Murray, Vulture, 15 Nov. 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