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1. Dictionary

   tense

   /tɛns/

   adjective

   • 1. (especially of a muscle) stretched tight or rigid: "she tried to relax her tense muscles" Similar tautstretched tighttightrigidstretchedstrainedstiffOpposite slackloose
   • ▪ (of a speech sound, especially a vowel) pronounced with the vocal muscles stretched tight.
   • 2. unable to relax because of nervousness, anxiety, or stimulation: "he was tense with excitement"
   • ▪ causing or characterized by anxiety and nervousness: "they waited in tense silence" Similar anxiousnervouson edgeedgystrainedstressedunder a strainunder pressureagitatedill at easeunrelaxedin a state of nervesin a state of agitationfretfuluneasyrestlessworked upkeyed upoverwroughthighly strungwrought upstrung outjumpyon tenterhookson pins and needleswith one's stomach in knotsfidgetyworriedapprehensiveupsetdisturbedpanickynervyinformal:with butterflies in one's stomacha bundle of nervesjitterytwitchyin a stateuptightwiredhet upstressed outwhite-knuckledstrung upstressywindyspookysquirrellytoeydated:overstrungnerve-rackingstressfulanxiousworryingconcerningfraughtchargedstrainednail-bitingworrisomedifficultuneasyuncomfortableexcitingcliffhangingknife-edgedramaticvolatileexplosiveinformal:hairyanxious-makingwhite-knuckleOpposite calmcoolrelaxedrelaxing

   verb

   • 1. become tense, typically through anxiety or nervousness: "her body tensed up"
   • ▪ make (a muscle or one's body) tight or rigid: "carefully stretch and then tense your muscles"

   Word Origin late 17th century: from Latin tensus ‘stretched’, from the verb tendere.

   Derivatives

   • 1. tensely adverb
   • 2. tenseness noun

   Scrabble Points: 5

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › tenseTense Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › tense

   • Cached

   The meaning of TENSE is stretched tight : made taut : rigid. How to use tense in a sentence.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishTENSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   TENSE definition: 1. any of the forms of a verb which show the time at which an action happened: 2. nervous and…. Learn more.

4. www.englishclub.com › grammar › tense-whatWhat is Tense? | Learn English

   www.englishclub.com › grammar › tense-what

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   Tense is a verb-based method used to indicate the time, and sometimes the continuation or completeness, of an action or state in relation to the time of speaking.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › tenseTENSE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › tense

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   noun. a category of verbal inflection that serves chiefly to specify the time of the action or state expressed by the verb. a set of such categories or constructions in a particular language. the time, as past, present, or future, expressed by such a category.

6. writingexplained.org › grammar-dictionary › english-tensesWhat are Tenses in English? Definition, Examples of English ...

   writingexplained.org › grammar-dictionary › english-tenses

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   Define tense: In grammar, the definition of tense is a verb’s quality that shows time in which an act, state, or condition occurs or occurred. In summary , there are three tense groups in English which include past, present, and future.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › grammar › british-grammarTenses and time - Grammar - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › grammar › british-grammar

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   Tenses refer to different forms of a verb or verb phrase. We use different tenses to talk or write about different times. For example, we usually use present tense verb forms to talk about states, events or actions that happen or are happening in the present time.

8. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › tenseTense - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › tense

   (of a situation) characterized by or causing suspense. taut. subjected to great tension; stretched tight. antsy, fidgety, fretful, itchy, twitchy.