tense
310
3.6
- adjective
- /tɛns/
:
tenso
- The atmosphere in the room was tense as everyone waited for the results.
- feel tense
- a tense atmosphere
- a tense relationship
And that is a very tense situation to be in.
- And that is a very tense situation to be in.
- We got into an argument and it's been tense the last few days.
- Now most airports, quite tense places not in Bristol.
- And yeah, he he, I think he had a tense relationship with his dad.
- That's when things get tense, fluid, conflicted.
- Like I feel tense all over and just irritable.
- And your body, instead of relaxing, you're getting more tense as it goes on.
- And it is just so wonderful and just like a really great, tense, perfectly paced thriller.
- I become tense when I am close to the subway.
- But, you know, things were now really tense and hot.
Examples
-
Your neck is looking a little tense.
-
We got into an argument and it's been tense the last few days.
-
And that is a very tense situation to be in.
-
And yeah, he he, I think he had a tense relationship with his dad.
-
It's been a tense time.
-
See, first I noticed how tense you were, but I let that pass.
Fiction book (1991) -
But to what extent have people remained tense and anxious about the future?
Academic text (2008) -
At the height of this tense moment, a smile broke on Watson's face.
Fiction book (1990) -
Negotiators have reached a stalemate, and the situation right now is tense.
-
For several weeks prior to the massacre, the atmosphere was unusually tense in the Occupied Territories.
Academic text (1991)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Feeling nervous or upset about something that may go wrong
∞
1.3
Feeling worried and easily frightened
77
5.0
Nervous and tense so you cannot relax
30
4.8
Stretched tight and showing physical or emotional tension
Appearing not natural and tense, often like a forced smile
Very tight because it is under strong strain, for example in muscles
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
1
4.2
A verb form that shows an action finished before now or another event
- Specialized
1
8.9
A verb form showing one past action happened before another past action
- Specialized
A verb form that shows an action will finish before a future time
- Specialized
A verb form showing an action that will be happening at a certain time in the future
- Specialized
To talk about past actions that happened often or were still happening
- Specialized
A verb form for an action that finished before another past action
- Specialized
Shows an action that was happening at a certain time in the past
- Specialized
An ending or small change to a verb that shows it happened before now
- Specialized
A verb form that shows an action has finished and focuses on the result
- Specialized
A verb tense used to talk about actions that happened before now and still matter
- Specialized
A small ending added to a verb to show present time, like the -s in runs
How Tense
Surface Forms
Etymology
Tense meaning nervous comes from the Latin root tendere which means 'to stretch' and is the same root as tension. That's why if you feel tense your body or mind feels tight and stretched and you cannot relax.