taut

[ tawt ]

adjective

, taut·er, taut·est.

1. tightly drawn; tense; not slack.
2. emotionally or mentally strained or tense:

   taut nerves.

3. in good order or condition; tidy; neat.

   Synonyms: smart, spruce, trig, trim

taut

/ tɔːt /

adjective

1. tightly stretched; tense
2. showing nervous strain; stressed
3. nautical in good order; neat

Derived Forms

• ˈtautness, noun
• ˈtautly, adverb

Other Words From

• tautly adverb
• tautness noun
• un·taut adjective
• un·tautly adverb
• un·tautness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of taut¹

1275–1325; earlier taught, Middle English tought; akin to tow ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of taut¹

C14 tought; probably related to Old English togian to tow ¹

Example Sentences

There were stomachs, taut and flat, but also undulating bellies, soft and bloated from the breakfast buffet.

From The Daily Beast

Now Kevin Garvey (a taut, tense Justin Theroux) is Mapleton's chief of police.

From The Daily Beast

“At first it was so bizarre,” she mumbles into a hand mirror, her mouth taut as she applies lipstick in the back of a taxi.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, they are linked by a taut common thread: innocence encountering the face of evil.

From The Daily Beast

Taut red fabric on the ceiling above the chandelier gives the room a cool, circus-tent vibe.

From The Daily Beast

The atmosphere seemed drawn taut before him as though it must any instant split open upon a sound of crying.

From Project Gutenberg

As they went cutting sidewise through the water, the sails bellied taut, with the wind filling and overflowing them.

From Project Gutenberg

How his fingers tingled with anticipation when he grasped the taut double line!

From Project Gutenberg

Screen wire is very difficult material to fasten on a frame so that it becomes taut.

From Project Gutenberg

His eyes shone, his chin was thrust forward, every ligament in his body was strung taut.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• tense