tense

B1 Topic:Language & Linguistics

US /tɛns/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like tench /tʃ/ vs /s/

Freq #3886

Meanings

1

noun
A form of a verb that shows when an action happens, such as past, present, or future.

In English, the past tense of 'go' is 'went'.
2

verb
To become nervous, worried, or unable to relax.

She tensed up when she heard footsteps behind her.
3

verb
To make a muscle tight and stiff.

He tensed his arm to show his muscles.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to become nervous, worried,... tense up

3 verb · to make a muscle tight and... strain

Word family

Forms tensedtenselytensertensestensesttensing

Derived forms hypertensetensal

Related forms intense tend tension tent

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Simplified etymology

Tense has two distinct histories. The grammatical noun ultimately derives from Latin tempus, tempor- “time,” while the adjective meaning “stretched tight,” recorded in the late 17th century, comes from Latin tendere “to stretch.”

Etymology

From Middle English tens, from Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus. Doublet of tempo and tempus.

*tend- Proto-Indo-European tens Middle English tempus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Language & Linguistics Actions & Processes

External links

# tense

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /tɛns/
**Frequency rank:** 3886

## Meanings
1. A form of a verb that shows when an action happens, such as past, present, or future.
2. To become nervous, worried, or unable to relax.
3. To make a muscle tight and stiff.

## Examples
- In English, the past tense of 'go' is 'went'.
- She tensed up when she heard footsteps behind her.
- He tensed his arm to show his muscles.

## Derived Forms
- hypertense
- tensal

## Related Forms
- intense
- tend
- tension
- tent

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *tend-
- Root: tens
- Root: tempus

## Etymology
From Middle English tens, from Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus. Doublet of tempo and tempus.

## AI Etymology
Tense is from Middle English tens, from Old French tens (modern French temps), from Latin tempus. Doublet of tempo and tempus. In present-day use, it can mean a form of a verb that shows when an action happens, such as past, present, or future, or to become nervous, worried, or unable to relax. Derived formations include hypertense, tensal.

## Topics
- Language & Linguistics
- Actions & Processes

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