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

This apparent tension between doubt and faith may reinforce one of Serling’s most familiar and enigmatic lines: “There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

But living close to family can come with unspoken expectations and occasional tension due to different parenting styles.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

Money is a major barrier to the success of the biodiversity goals and an expected source of tension at COP17.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

That sometimes led to tension and chaos even onstage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

He tried to keep the tension from his voice when he answered.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Rodriguez sees those tensions as a consequence of a much larger and complex history.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

At the same time escalating tensions in the Middle East, with ongoing strikes between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, have pushed oil prices higher.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

The decision not to publish a final report has added to tensions that threaten to break apart the charity, which was founded in 1949.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Asian stocks dropped, tracking the weakness in U.S. technology stocks, as simmering geopolitical tensions continued to weigh on appetite for risky assets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

He wanted to know if they supported this plan, which risked escalating tensions with the Soviet Union and China.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

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Related Words

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

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