What does "tense" mean?
The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists.
Tense
/tɛns/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists.
- Grammar: tense is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: accented, agitated, alarmed, all-overish.
- Useful contrasts: carefree, loose, balmy.
- Usage evidence: What Jane said made the atmosphere less tense.
How to use "tense"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tense" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tense" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tense" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tense" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tense" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accented" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "tense", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists. uncountable
"Dyirbal verbs are not inflected for tense."
- 2 a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time wordnet
- 3 An inflected form of a verb that indicates tense. countable
"English only has a past tense and a non-past tense; it has no future tense."
- 4 A grammatical aspect. countable, proscribed
- 5 A verb form or construction indicating a combination of tense, aspect, and mood. countable, proscribed
"The "simple present" tense in English can have several meanings."
Verb
- 1 To apply a tense to. transitive
"tensing a verb"
- 2 To make tense. transitive
- 3 cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious wordnet
- 4 To become tense. intransitive
"The driver and the man shouted angrily at each other and I tensed, ready for violence. But soon everyone in the tap-tap joined in, capping remarks, joking, telling chicken and goat stories."
- 5 become tense, nervous, or uneasy wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 increase the tension on wordnet
- 7 become stretched or tense or taut wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Showing signs of stress or strain; not relaxed.
"You need to relax, all this overtime and stress is making you tense."
- 2 Characterized by strain (on the nerves, emotions, etc). (Compare charged.)
"Chi stops, but her eyes continue to pierce right through me and into Karima. A tense moment later, she drops her eyes back to the terminal and scans the data once more. The showdown is over, at least for the moment."
- 3 Pulled taut, without any slack.
- 4 Produced with relative constriction of the vocal tract.
Adjective
- 1 taut or rigid; stretched tight wordnet
- 2 pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in ‘beat’) wordnet
- 3 in or of a state of physical or nervous tension wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"What Jane said made the atmosphere less tense."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tense"?
Common synonyms include: accented, agitated, alarmed, all-overish, alveolar, antsy.
How do you use "tense" in a sentence?
What Jane said made the atmosphere less tense.
How do you pronounce "tense"?
Pronounced /tɛns/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English tens, from Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus. Doublet of tempo and tempus.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Latin tēnsus, one form of the past participle of tendō (“stretch”).