tense
/tˈɛns/ · 1 syllable
Meaning
noun
- a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
adjective
- in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
- pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')
- taut or rigid; stretched tight
“tense piano strings”
verb
- become stretched or tense or taut
“the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed” - increase the tension on
“alternately relax and tense your calf muscle” - become tense, nervous, or uneasy
“He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room” - cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious
“he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up”
Synonyms for tense
Antonyms of tense
Words that rhyme with tense
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