What does "tween" mean?
An action of tweening (inserting frames for continuity); a sequence of frames generated by tweening.
Tween
/twiːn/ adj, noun, prep, verb
adj, noun, prep, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An action of tweening (inserting frames for continuity); a sequence of frames generated by tweening.
- Grammar: tween is listed as adj, noun, prep, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: approximate, blend, estimate, interpolate.
- Useful contrasts: adult, extrapolate, hardcode.
- Usage evidence: The target audience of this show is white, middle-class tween girls.
How to use "tween"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tween" 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 "tween" 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 "tween" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tween" 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 "tween" is acting as adj, noun, prep, 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 "approximate" 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 "tween", 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 An action of tweening (inserting frames for continuity); a sequence of frames generated by tweening.
"Because the results of a shape tween can be unpredictable, you can set shape hints to let Flash know how to proceed with the tween."
- 2 A child, especially a girl, in the age range between middle childhood and adolescence, normally between eight and thirteen years of age.
"When Play Along — the holder of the Care Bears master toy license — placed Care Bears plushes in Spencer Gifts last year, tweens and teenage girls bought the toys."
- 3 A number or age in the twenties (plural only), or a person of that age. rare
"At that time Frodo was still in his tweens, as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three."
Verb
- 1 To generate intermediate frames in an animated sequence so as to give the appearance of smooth movement.
"The two most important and advanced ingredients of today's animation are tweening and morphing."
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to tweenagers.
"I am going to describe a video that threw me into a pit of despair. It begins with a woman running into the aisle of a big-box store and telling a tween boy that she needs phone chargers."
Preposition
- 1 Alternative spelling of 'tween. alt-of, alternative
"“Skunks first colonized this land in 1794. With the arrival of European settlers, an uneasy truce was established tween man and skunk. Gifts were exchanged. Treaties were struck... and broken. A feud ignited, resulting in the Battle of Skunktown.”"
Antonyms
Example
"The target audience of this show is white, middle-class tween girls."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tween"?
Common synonyms include: approximate, blend, estimate, interpolate, preadolescent, preteen.
How do you use "tween" in a sentence?
The target audience of this show is white, middle-class tween girls.
How do you pronounce "tween"?
Pronounced /twiːn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Clipping of in between.
Etymology 2
Blend of teen + between in the sense of "between childhood and adolescence".
Etymology 3
Blend of twenty + teen.