tense

¹

[ tens ]

adjective

, tens·er, tens·est.

1. stretched tight, as a cord, fiber, etc.; drawn taut; rigid.
2. in a state of mental or nervous strain; high-strung; taut:

   a tense person.

3. characterized by a strain upon the nerves or feelings:

   a tense moment.

4. Phonetics. pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles; narrow. Compare lax ¹( def 7 ).

verb (used with or without object)

, tensed, tens·ing.

1. to make or become tense.

tense

²

[ tens ]

noun

1. a category of verbal inflection that serves chiefly to specify the time of the action or state expressed by the verb.
2. a set of such categories or constructions in a particular language.
3. the time, as past, present, or future, expressed by such a category.
4. such categories or constructions, or their meanings collectively.

tense

¹

/ tɛns /

noun

1. grammar a category of the verb or verbal inflections, such as present, past, and future, that expresses the temporal relations between what is reported in a sentence and the time of its utterance

tense

²

/ tɛns /

adjective

1. stretched or stressed tightly; taut or rigid
2. under mental or emotional strain
3. producing mental or emotional strain

   a tense day

4. (of a speech sound) pronounced with considerable muscular effort and having relatively precise accuracy of articulation and considerable duration Compare lax

   in English the vowel (iː) in ``beam'' is tense

verb

1. often foll by up to make or become tense

tense

1. An inflectional ( see inflection ) form of verbs ; it expresses the time at which the action described by the verb takes place. The major tenses are past, present, and future. The verb in “I sing” is in the present tense; in “I sang,” past tense; in “I will sing,” future tense. Other tenses are the present perfect (“I have sung”), the past perfect (“I had sung”), and the future perfect (“I will have sung”).

Derived Forms

• ˈtenseless, adjective
• ˈtenseness, noun
• ˈtensely, adverb

Other Words From

• tensely adverb
• tenseness noun
• un·tensing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tense¹

First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin tēnsus, past participle of tendere “to stretch”; tend ¹

Origin of tense²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tens, from Middle French, from Latin tempus “time”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tense¹

C14: from Old French tens time, from Latin tempus

Origin of tense²

C17: from Latin tensus taut, from tendere to stretch

Example Sentences

It turned especially tense during the Biden administration because of tariffs and geopolitical disagreements ranging from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the future of Taiwan.

From BBC

The Marías L.A. rock quartet the Marías were one of few acts at Flog Gnaw to acknowledge the, let’s say, tense atmosphere in the U.S. right now.

From Los Angeles Times

The mood in the British camp has been far from tense during their time in Malaga.

From BBC

"Things may be a bit tense right in our communities right now, but being worried isn't a solution," he said.

From BBC

Many Americans are tense and emotional because of the election.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agitated
• anxious
• apprehensive
• edgy
• excited
• jittery
• nervous
• restive
• shaky
• strained
• stressful
• uneasy