tennis

noun

ten·​nis ˈte-nəs 

often attributive

1

: an indoor or outdoor game that is played with rackets and a light elastic ball by two players or pairs of players on a level court (as of clay or grass) divided by a low net

2

: court tennis

Examples of tennis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Netflix also streamed a tennis event pitting Spaniard Rafael Nadal taking on fellow countryman Carlos Alcarez. —Brad Adgate, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

One area of the show that was getting a lot of attention was Parks and Recreation on the first floor, which blends lifestyle dressing with sports apparel for tennis and ski. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025

Per the Independent, the man who approached Raducanu in Dubai has been issued a restraining order prohibiting contact with the tennis player. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2025

Ruud, a tennis professional but golf obsessive, is in his element. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tenetz, tenys, perhaps borrowed from Anglo-French tenez, 2nd person plural imperative of tenir "to hold" — more at tenant entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing tennis

• court tennis
• deck tennis
• lawn tennis
• paddle tennis
• platform tennis
• squash tennis
• table tennis
• tennis court
• tennis elbow
• tennis shoe

Rhymes for tennis

• menace

Kids Definition

tennis

noun

ten·​nis ˈten-əs 

: a game played with rackets and a light elastic ball by two players or two pairs of players on a level court divided by a low net