tense
adjective
1. in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
Similar word(s): agitated, uneasy, aroused, suspenseful, suspensive, taut, antsy, fidgety, fretful, itchy, edgy, jittery, jumpy, nervy, overstrung, uptight, electric, isotonic, nervous, strained, unrelaxed, pumped, wired
2. pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')
Similar word(s): constricted
3. tight or rigid; stretched tight
- tense piano strings
Similar word(s): tight, overstrung, taut, tight
Sentences with tense as an adjective:
- You need to relax, all this overtime and stress is making you tense.
noun
1. a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
Definition categories: communication
Sentences with tense as a noun:
- The basic tenses in English are present, past, and future.
verb
1. become stretched or tense or taut
- the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed
Similar word(s): strain
Definition categories: contact, tighten
2. increase the tension on
- alternately relax and tense your calf muscle
- tense the rope manually before tensing the spring
Definition categories: change, alter, modify
3. become tense, nervous, or uneasy
- He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
Definition categories: body, turn
4. cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious
- he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up
Similar word(s): strain