Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

Medical

Scrabble^®

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Dictionary

¹tense

noun \ˈten(t)s\

grammar : a form of a verb that is used to show when an action happened

Full Definition of TENSE

: a distinction of form in a verb to express distinctions of time or duration of the action or state it denotes

a : a set of inflectional forms of a verb that express distinctions of time

b : an inflectional form of a verb expressing a specific time distinction

See tense defined for English-language learners

See tense defined for kids

Origin of TENSE

Middle English tens time, tense, from Anglo-French, from Latin tempus

First Known Use: 14th century

²tense

adjective

: nervous and not able to relax

: showing or causing nervousness

: not relaxed but hard and tight

tens·ertens·est

Full Definition of TENSE

: stretched tight : made taut : rigid <tense muscles>

a : feeling or showing nervous tension <a tense smile>

b : marked by strain or suspense <a tense thriller>

: produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state <the vowels \ē\ and \ü\ in contrast with the vowels \i\ and \u̇\ are tense>

— tense·ly adverb

— tense·ness noun

See tense defined for English-language learners

Origin of TENSE

Latin tensus, from past participle of tendere to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use: 1668

Related to TENSE

Synonyms: aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky [slang], hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervy, perturbed, queasy (also queazy), nervous, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried

Antonyms: calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed

Rhymes with TENSE

fence, sense, whence

³tense

verb

: to make (a muscle) hard and tight

: to become nervous or tense

tensedtens·ing

Full Definition of TENSE

transitive verb

: to make tense

intransitive verb

: to become tense <tensed up and missed the putt>

See tense defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of TENSE

1676

Related to TENSE

Synonyms: strain, stretch, tauten, tighten

Antonyms: loosen, slack, slacken

TENSENESS Defined for Kids

¹tense

noun \ˈtens\

Definition of TENSE for Kids

: a form of a verb used to show the time of the action or state

²tense

adjective

tens·ertens·est

Definition of TENSE for Kids

: feeling or showing worry or nervousness : not relaxed <a tense smile>

: marked by strain or uncertainty <a tense moment>

: stretched tight <tense muscles>

— tense·ly adverb

— tense·ness noun

Word Root of TENSE

The Latin word tendere, meaning to “stretch” or “to spread,” and its form tentus give us the roots tend, tent, and tens. Words from the Latin tendere have something to do with stretching or spreading. A tent is a temporary shelter made from stretched out fabric. To distend is to stretch outward and swell in all directions. To extend is to stretch out. A tendon is a cord that connects a muscle to another muscle or to a bone and that stretches allowing a joint to bend. Something tense is stretched tight.