tent
tehnt
Tent (noun) means a portable shelter made of fabric stretched over poles, used for camping or outdoor events. Example: “Dad struggled to put up the tent in the strong wind.”
noun
1
A portable shelter made of fabric stretched over poles, used for camping or outdoor events.
"Dad struggled to put up the tent in the strong wind."
"The festival had a large tent where bands played all afternoon."
"They pitched a tent by the river for the weekend."
verb
1
To go camping in a tent.
"We’ll be tenting at the campground this weekend."
"Every summer my cousins tent beside the lake for a week."
"Are you planning to tent or stay in a cabin this year?"
"We tented at the festival instead of booking a hotel."
How to use tent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fabric shelter you set up outdoors, typically for camping.
Common pairings
pitch a tent
camping tent
tent pole
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Word forms
- Plural
- tents
- Third person singular
- tents
- Past tense
- tented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Dad struggled to put up the _____ in the strong wind.
Etymology
From Old French tente, from Vulgar Latin *tenta, related to Latin tendere ("to stretch").
Related words
Rhymes for tent
See all rhymes for tent →Frequently asked questions
What does “tent” mean?
The word “tent” means a portable shelter made of fabric stretched over poles, used for camping or outdoor events. In plain terms, a fabric shelter you set up outdoors, typically for camping.
How do you pronounce “tent”?
“Tent” is pronounced tehnt (/tɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “tent” in a sentence?
Here is “tent” used in a sentence: “They pitched a tent by the river for the weekend.”
What part of speech is “tent”?
Depending on how it is used, “tent” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tent” come from?
The word “tent” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old French tente, from Vulgar Latin *tenta, related to Latin tendere ("to stretch").
Is “tent” a common word?
“Tent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “tent” have?
“Tent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a portable shelter made of fabric stretched over poles, used for camping or outdoor events.
What is the difference between a tent and a marquee?
Both are shelters made of fabric stretched over poles or frames. A tent is typically the portable kind used for camping, while a marquee — especially in British English — is a large tent hired for outdoor events such as weddings and fairs. In short, a marquee is a big event tent.
Can "tent" be used as a verb?
Yes. To "tent" means to go camping in a tent: "we tented by the lake all weekend." Cooks also use it for covering food loosely with foil folded into a tent shape — "tent the roast while it rests" — though the camping sense is the core one.
What is the difference between a tent and a tarp?
A tent is a portable shelter of fabric stretched over poles that encloses a space to sleep or shelter in. A tarp is simply a flat waterproof sheet with no built-in structure, floor, or walls, though campers often rig one over a line as minimal cover — or carry both, using the tarp for extra protection.
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