ten·sion
ˈten(t)-shən 
1
a
: inner striving, unrest, or imbalance often with physiological indication of emotion
b
: a state of latent hostility or opposition between individuals or groups
c
: a balance maintained in an artistic work between opposing forces or elements
2
a
: the act or action of stretching or the condition or degree of being stretched to stiffness : tautness
b
3
a
: either of two balancing forces causing or tending to cause extension
b
: the stress resulting from the elongation of an elastic body
4
: a device to produce a desired tension (as in a loom)
tensioned; tensioning
ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)niŋ
: to subject to tension
especially
: to tighten to a desired or appropriate degree
Synonyms
Examples of tension in a Sentence
Noun
You can see she is just filled with tension about her job.
The dramatic tension was very satisfying.
The author resolves the tension too soon.
Political tensions in the region make it unstable.
Do you sense the tension between those two?
There was a lot of tension at the meeting.
The book describes the tension-filled days before the war.
He felt a tension between duty and love.
There will always be some tension between the desire to reduce risk and the desire to make as much money as possible.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kiri Masters, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Though her story carries an active tension, in the film doesn’t do enough to show us the activism Taranom has spent most of her life participating in.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2024
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 May 2024
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 13 Perfectly Nice Neighbors
Salma, a Bangladeshi woman, moves to a new neighborhood with her family, and immediately tensions with their neighbors run high after a woman is caught vandalizing their anti-racist flag.
—Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 29 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for tension 
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Noun
The retail giant's recent moves reflect this tension.
—Kiri Masters, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Though her story carries an active tension, in the film doesn’t do enough to show us the activism Taranom has spent most of her life participating in.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
In terms of speech, this means the neurons needed to convert the desire to say a word into the muscle activity needed to control the mouth and tongue, expel sufficient breath, and tension the vocal cords.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 May 2024
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 13 Perfectly Nice Neighbors
Salma, a Bangladeshi woman, moves to a new neighborhood with her family, and immediately tensions with their neighbors run high after a woman is caught vandalizing their anti-racist flag.
—Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 29 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for tension
Dictionary Entries Near tension
Cite this Entry
“Tension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tension. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
tension
noun
ten·sion
ˈten-chən
1
a
: the act or action of stretching or the condition or degree of being stretched to stiffness
muscular tension
b
2
a
: either of two balancing forces causing or tending to cause extension
b
: the stress resulting from the elongation of an elastic body
3
: inner striving, unrest, or imbalance often with physiological indication of emotion
4
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