tense
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for tense, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Feeling or showing stress, anxiety, or strain; not relaxed.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use tense
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus ("time"). Doublet of tempo.
Full origin of tense →Frequently asked questions
What does “tense” mean?
The word “tense” means feeling or showing stress, anxiety, or strain; not relaxed. In plain terms, either "stressed and on edge" or the grammar term for a verb's time reference (past/present/future).
How do you pronounce “tense”?
“Tense” is pronounced tehns (/tɛns/ in IPA).
How do you use “tense” in a sentence?
Here is “tense” used in a sentence: “The room went tense the moment she mentioned the layoffs.”
What part of speech is “tense”?
Depending on how it is used, “tense” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “tense” come from?
The word “tense” comes from Latin. From Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus ("time"). Doublet of tempo.
Is “tense” a common word?
“Tense” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “tense” have?
“Tense” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling or showing stress, anxiety, or strain; not relaxed.
What is the difference between "tense" and "nervous"?
"Tense" describes a state of stress, strain, or being unable to relax, which can show in the body and in the atmosphere, while "nervous" focuses on worry or fear about something specific. A whole room can feel tense, but a person is nervous before an exam.
What is the difference between "tense" and "anxious"?
"Tense" emphasises physical and mental strain and a lack of relaxation, while "anxious" emphasises worry or unease about a possible outcome. You can feel tense from a hard day even with nothing to fear, but you feel anxious when you are worried about what might happen.
What are the three main verb tenses in English grammar?
In grammar, "tense" is the verb form that shows when an action happens, and English has three basic tenses: past, present, and future. Each can combine with aspects such as simple, continuous, and perfect to produce forms like "past continuous" or "present perfect."
How can the same word "tense" describe both feelings and grammar?
The two senses are unrelated in meaning but share the same spelling. One "tense" is an adjective for feeling stressed or strained, while the other is a grammar noun for the time-form of a verb; the context makes clear which is meant.