tame
taym
Tame (adj) means not wild; brought under human control, especially of an animal. Example: “The park has a few tame deer that will eat from your hand.”
adj
1
Not wild; brought under human control, especially of an animal.
"The park has a few tame deer that will eat from your hand."
"A tame fox followed the ranger around the site."
2
Lacking excitement or edge; mild.
"The film's ending felt tame compared to the book."
"Their idea of a wild party was pretty tame."
verb
1
To bring an animal, person, or situation under control.
"It took months to tame the wild horse."
"The new manager tamed the chaos in the warehouse."
How to use tame
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnder control and no longer wild or dangerous — or, of an experience, disappointingly mild.
Common pairings
tame animal
tame a wild horse
a tame version
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- tames
- Past tense
- tamed
- Comparative
- tamer
- Superlative
- tamest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The park has a few _____ deer that will eat from your hand.
Etymology
From Old English tam ("domesticated"), from a Germanic root meaning "brought into the home."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tame
See all rhymes for tame →Frequently asked questions
What does “tame” mean?
The word “tame” means not wild; brought under human control, especially of an animal. In plain terms, under control and no longer wild or dangerous — or, of an experience, disappointingly mild.
How do you pronounce “tame”?
“Tame” is pronounced taym (/teɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “tame” in a sentence?
Here is “tame” used in a sentence: “The park has a few tame deer that will eat from your hand.”
What part of speech is “tame”?
Depending on how it is used, “tame” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “tame” come from?
The word “tame” comes from Old English. From Old English tam ("domesticated"), from a Germanic root meaning "brought into the home.".
Is “tame” a common word?
“Tame” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “tame” have?
“Tame” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not wild; brought under human control, especially of an animal.
What is the difference between tame and domesticated?
Tame describes an individual animal that is not wild and has been brought under human control, regardless of species. Domesticated refers to a species that has been bred over generations to live alongside humans, such as dogs or cattle. A domesticated species can still have individual animals that are not tame, and a wild species can occasionally have a tame individual.
What does it mean to describe something as a tame version of an event?
When tame describes an event, story, or experience, it means lacking excitement or edge, or being milder than expected, such as a tame party or a tame movie. This figurative sense contrasts with wild, extreme, or intense.
What is the difference between tame and gentle?
Tame specifically implies that a wild nature has been brought under control, often through training, while gentle simply describes a mild, soft temperament without implying anything about wildness or control. An animal can be gentle by nature without ever having been wild.
