tilt

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈtilt 

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

ˈtil-tə-bəl 

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

a

: speed see full tilt

b

: dispute, contention

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

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• angle
• cant
• cock
• heel
• incline
• lean
• list
• pitch
• slant
• slope
• tip

Noun (1)

• angling
• bend
• cock
• inclination
• list
• tip

Examples of tilt in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the robin tilts its head as it hunts for worms in the grass

Noun (1)

indicated her approval with a slight tilt of her head

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This means that each year, as Earth orbits the sun, there are periods when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and receives more sunlight, resulting in summer, and times when the Southern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun, receiving more sunlight, which marks our winter. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024

This pressure alone may eventually tilt economic policy more towards supply side changes, and also change the kinds of issues that politicians focus on such as immigration and identity politics. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

Noun

Smiling with his teeth, gaze looking out towards guests with a slight head tilt. —Zach Zimmerman, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024

When the 40-foot concrete tilt walls went up in August, city officials received complaints from nearby residents and filed a lawsuit against Velocis and Wheelock. —Austin American-Statesman, 22 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing tilt

• at full tilt
• full tilt
• shift/tip/tilt the balance of power
• tilt at
• tilt at windmills
• tilt-rotor

Kids Definition

tilt

1 of 2 verb

ˈtilt 

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