tense

Speech parts

1. tense - Noun

2. tense - Adjective

3. tense - Verb

Meaning

One of the forms which a verb takes by inflection or by adding auxiliary words, so as to indicate the time of the action or event signified; the modification which verbs undergo for the indication of time.

Stretched tightly; strained to stiffness; rigid; not lax; as, a tense fiber.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

restless nervous rigid tight strain strained worried anxious uneasy agitated taut edgy apprehensive uptight fidgety
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Antonyms

relaxed relax lax slack valiant daredevil
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Hypernyms

change turn affect alter modify tighten

Hyponyms

present future past perfect extend progressive

Phrases with the word

tense turn indefinite tense make less tense be tense dramatic present tense historical present tense

Anagrams

seten steen teens sente Enets enset ESnet senet Stene Tenes

Examples

Probably nature itself gave man the ability to lie so that in difficult and tense moments he could protect his nest, just as do the vixen and wild duck. Anton Chekhov

I get irritated, nervous, very tense or stressed, but never bored. Catherine Deneuve

Politics is history in the present tense. John Avlon

Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life. Joan Lunden

Winners live in the present tense. People who come up short are consumed with future or past. I want to be living in the now. Alex Rodriguez

It takes between three and six hours to make each snowball, depending on snow quality. Wet snow is quick to work with but also quick to thaw, which can lead to a tense journey to the cold store. Andy Goldsworthy

Close letter words and terms

tensan Tensas Parish tenscore tense system tense turn tense up