tension

American  

[ten-shuhn] / ˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

• tensions
  plural

1. 

   the act of stretching or straining.

2. the state of being stretched or strained.

3. mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.

4. a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc.

5. (not in current use) pressure, especially of a vapor.

6. Mechanics.

   1. the longitudinal deformation of an elastic body that results in its elongation.

   2. the force producing such deformation.

7. Electricity. electromotive force; potential.

8. Machinery. a device for stretching or pulling something.

9. a device to hold the proper tension on the material being woven in a loom.

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verb (used with object)

1. to subject (a cable, belt, tendon, or the like) to tension, especially for a specific purpose.

tension British  

/ ˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. the act of stretching or the state or degree of being stretched

2. mental or emotional strain; stress

3. a situation or condition of hostility, suspense, or uneasiness

4. physics a force that tends to produce an elongation of a body or structure

5. physics

   1. voltage, electromotive force, or potential difference

   2. ( in combination )

      high-tension

      low-tension

6. a device for regulating the tension in a part, string, thread, etc, as in a sewing machine

7. knitting the degree of tightness or looseness with which a person knits

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tension Scientific  

/ tĕn′shən /

1. A force that tends to stretch or elongate something.

2. An electrical potential (voltage), especially as measured in electrical components such as transformers or power lines involved in the transmission of electrical power.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overtension
  noun
• supertension
  noun
• tensional
  adjective
• tensionless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tensions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of tension

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin tēnsiōn-, stem of tēnsiō, “a stretching,” equivalent to tēns(us) “stretched” (past participle of tendere “to stretch, extend, proceed”; see tend ¹) + -iō -ion

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Explanation

When things feel so tight they might snap, that's tension. If you buy your girlfriend a vacuum cleaner when she wanted diamonds, you will experience tension. Just before she storms out of the room. The noun tension has its Latin roots in tendere, which means to stretch, and tension occurs when something is stretched either physically or emotionally. Strained relations between countries can cause political tensions to rise. You can add tension to a rubber band by stretching it tight. You can release nervous tension by releasing that tension in the rubber band, when you shoot it at your brother.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tension tensions

The tension at the heart of the primary—and the feud between El-Sayed and Stevens—is less a policy disagreement than a moral one.

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

But their shared lust for adventure created a prickly tension within their family unit, a strain between their passion and parentage that sits at the documentary’s emotional center.

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026

By processing these signals, they can regulate where tension wood develops and adjust their posture accordingly.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

Rather than resolving the tension, Dostoevsky forces the reader to sit with this ambiguity, allowing the scene to stand as the ultimate test of the novel’s moral equilibrium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Chest voice feels like the sound is emanating from the chest, which tends to create a lot of tension in the throat, particularly in younger singers.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

And once the primary ended, the pair could have buried the hatchet permanently rather than letting the tensions simmer into the general election.

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

It also takes place amid heightened tensions with neighbouring Eritrea, with concerns over the possibility of renewed conflict between the two countries.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

But tensions peaked in the evening as some groups of protesters refused to disperse.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

Whoever wins will be charged with a long list of priorities, including navigating tensions with the federal government over immigration enforcement and helping keep millions of people safe during the 2028 Olympic Games.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

In fact, despite the building tensions, hardly anybody had even admitted to Joe they knew the beanfield existed.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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Related Words

• anxiety
• apprehension
• concern
• discomfort
• hostility
• jitters
• nervousness
• pressure
• strain
• suspense
• unease
• worry

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