adjective
tense
tehns
adjective
1
Feeling or showing stress, anxiety, or strain; not relaxed.
"The room went tense the moment she mentioned the layoffs."
"His shoulders were tense after hours hunched over the keyboard."
noun
1
The grammatical form of a verb that shows when an action happens (past, present, or future).
"Remember to keep the whole paragraph in the past tense."
How to Use Tense
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "stressed and on edge" or the grammar term for a verb's time reference (past/present/future).
Common pairings
a tense atmosphere
past tense
tense muscles
Word Forms
tenser comparative, tensed past tense, tensed past tense, tenses plural, tenses singular, tenses singular, tensest superlative
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The room went _____ the moment she mentioned the layoffs.
Etymology
From Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus ("time"). Doublet of tempo.