temper

American  

[tem-per] / ˈtɛm pər /

noun

1. a particular state of mind or feelings.

   Synonyms:

   point of view, perspective, outlook, inclination, attitude, humor, frame of mind, cheer

2. habit of mind, especially with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like; disposition.

   an even temper.

   Synonyms:

   temperament, spirit, nature, makeup, habit, grain, disposition

3. heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.

   Synonyms:

   petulance, irritation, irritability, crossness, annoyance, resentment

4. calm disposition or state of mind.

   to be out of temper.

   Synonyms:

   composure, equanimity

5. a substance added to something to modify its properties or qualities.

6. Metallurgy.

   1. the degree of hardness and strength imparted to a metal, as by quenching, heat treatment, or cold working.

   2. the percentage of carbon in tool steel.

   3. the operation of tempering.

7. Archaic. a middle course; compromise.

8. Obsolete. the constitution or character of a substance.

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verb (used with object)

tempers, present (3rd person singular) tempered, past participle, past tempering present participle

1. to moderate or mitigate.

   to temper justice with mercy.

2. to soften or tone down.

3. to bring to a proper, suitable, or desirable state by or as by blending or admixture.

4. to moisten, mix, and work up into proper consistency, as clay or mortar.

5. Metallurgy. to impart strength or toughness to (steel or cast iron) by heating and cooling.

6. to produce internal stresses in (glass) by sudden cooling from low red heat; toughen.

7. to tune (a keyboard instrument, as a piano, organ, or harpsichord) so as to make the tones available in different keys or tonalities.

8. to modify (color) by mixing with a medium.

9. Archaic. to combine or blend in due proportions.

10. Archaic. to pacify.

verb (used without object)

tempers, present (3rd person singular) tempered, past participle, past tempering present participle

1. to be or become tempered.

temper British  

/ ˈtɛmpə /

noun

1. a frame of mind; mood or humour

   a good temper

2. a sudden outburst of anger; tantrum

3. a tendency to exhibit uncontrolled anger; irritability

4. a mental condition of moderation and calm (esp in the phrases keep one's temper, lose one's temper, out of temper )

5. the degree of hardness, elasticity, or a similar property of a metal or metal object

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verb

1. to make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderate

   he tempered his criticism with kindly sympathy

2. to strengthen or toughen (a metal or metal article) by heat treatment, as by heating and quenching

3. music

   1. to adjust the frequency differences between the notes of a scale on (a keyboard instrument) in order to allow modulation into other keys

   2. to make such an adjustment to the pitches of notes in (a scale)

4. a rare word for adapt

5. an archaic word for mix

temper Idioms  

1. see hold one's temper; lose one's temper.

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Synonym Usage

See disposition. See modify.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nontemperable
  adjective
• untemperable
  adjective
• temperer
  noun
• untempering
  adjective
• temperability
  noun
• temperable
  adjective
• retemper
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has tempered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have tempered
  perfect
• am tempering
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been tempering
  perfect progressive
• has been tempering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is tempering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are tempering
  progressive
• tempering
  participle
• tempers
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had tempered
  perfect
• had been tempering
  perfect progressive
• was tempering
  progressive singular
• were tempering
  progressive plural
• tempered
  simple
• tempered
  participle

Future

• will temper
  simple
• will have tempered
  perfect
• will have been tempering
  perfect progressive
• will be tempering
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of temper

before 1000; (v.) Middle English tempren, Old English temprian < Latin temperāre to divide or proportion duly, temper; (noun) Middle English: proportion, derivative of the v.

Explanation

Temper can refer to a tendency to become unreasonably angry. If you’re not sure whether you have a temper, ask your friends — but don’t get mad if you dislike what they have to say. Temper has a number of related yet distinct meanings. In addition to describing a tendency to anger, temper can also refer to one’s mood in general; if you use the word in this sense, you might describe someone's temper as "angry" or "mild." Temper can also be used as a verb meaning “to restrain.” If you have a nasty temper, you might try tempering your temper by counting to ten whenever you’re tempted to throw a "temper tantrum," or fit.

Example Sentences

Fried said she learned the slang term “to flip your wig,” which the Edenwald residents translated as losing your temper.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Aboveground, Clark is trapped in his own resentments, throwing temper tantrums like a toddler.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

As a character, Dalton’s only speck of depth comes from feeling ashamed about his temper, a rage that gets so hot it ruins his life.

From Salon • May 27, 2026

She said that, while they were alone, she tried to speak to him about "bringing everything up" with the onscreen experts but he "threw a temper tantrum and threatened to leave".

From BBC • May 18, 2026

But broken hearts wouldn’t help us survive any more than my temper.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Related Words

• abate
• allay
• alleviate
• assuage
• cool
• curb
• dilute
• ease
• lessen
• mitigate
• mollify
• restrain
• soften
• soothe
• tone down
• weaken