Meaning & Definition of Tense in English

1. A grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time

1. Become stretched or tense or taut

• "The bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed

• " "the rope strained when the weight was attached"

2. Increase the tension on

• "Alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"

• "Tense the rope manually before tensing the spring"

3. Become tense, nervous, or uneasy

• "He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room"

4. Cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious

• "He got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"

1. In or of a state of physical or nervous tension

2. Pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')

3. Taut or rigid

• Stretched tight

• "Tense piano strings"