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

Davis said before tilting his head and staring into the camera with a serious look. —Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

For minorities, the risk-reward calculus still tilts in favor of playing. —Beryl Rosenstein, Baltimore Sun, 9 Dec. 2024

Noun

The Thunder will await the winner of that game while the Bucks will face the winner of the Hawks-Knicks tilt. —Kevin Dotson, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024

On the winter solstice, the tilt brings the Northern Hemisphere to its farthest point away from the sun, according to the Smithsonian Science Education Center. —Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 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