tilt

¹ American  

[tilt] / tɪlt /

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to lean, incline, slope, or slant.

2. to rush at or charge, as in a joust.

3. to hold poised for attack, as a lance.

4. to move (a camera) up or down on its vertical axis for photographing or televising a moving character, object, or the like.

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verb (used without object)

1. to move into or assume a sloping position or direction.

2. to strike, thrust, or charge with a lance or the like (usually followed byat ).

3. to engage in a joust, tournament, or similar contest.

4. (of a camera) to move on its vertical axis.

   The camera tilts downward for an overhead shot.

5. to incline in opinion, feeling, etc.; lean.

   She's tilting toward the other candidate this year.

noun

1. an act or instance of tilting.

2. the state of being tilted; a sloping position.

3. a slope.

4. a joust or any other contest.

5. a dispute; controversy.

6. a thrust of a weapon, as at a tilt or joust.

7. (in aerial photography) the angle formed by the direction of aim of a camera and a perpendicular to the surface of the earth.

idioms

1. tilt at windmills, to contend against imaginary opponents or injustices. Also fight with windmills.

2. (at) full tilt. full tilt.

tilt ² American  

[tilt] / tɪlt /

noun

1. a cover of coarse cloth, canvas, etc., as for a wagon.

2. an awning.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a tilt.

tilt ¹ British  

/ tɪlt /

verb

1. to incline or cause to incline at an angle

2. (usually intr) to attack or overthrow (a person or people) in a tilt or joust

3. to aim or thrust

   to tilt a lance

4. (tr) to work or forge with a tilt hammer

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noun

1. a slope or angle

   at a tilt

2. the act of tilting

3. 1. a jousting contest

   2. a thrust with a lance or pole delivered during a tournament

4. an attempt to win a contest

5. See tilt hammer

6. at full speed or force

tilt ² British  

/ tɪlt /

noun

1. an awning or canopy, usually of canvas, for a boat, booth, etc

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verb

1. (tr) to cover or provide with a tilt

Other Word Forms

• tilter
  noun
• tiltable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tilt¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English tilte(n), tilt(e), tult “to fall down, upset, tumble,” akin to Old English tealt “unsteady,” tealtian “to stumble”; compare dialectal Norwegian tylta “to tiptoe,” tylten “unsteady,” Swedish tulta “to totter”

Origin of tilt²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English teld(e), telt(e), tild(e) “dwelling (temporary or permanent), fort, tent,” Old English teld “tent, pavilion”; cognate with German Zelt “tent,” Old Norse tjald “tent, tapestry, curtain”

Explanation

Tilt is both a noun and a verb. It has many shades of meaning, but most involve a slope or slant. When you're dizzy from eating too much, you might tilt when you walk away from the table. The verb tilt can also indicate a slight preference for one thing over another. When Mavis and Marvin argue, you tend to tilt toward Marvin’s point of view, meaning you think he's probably right — you lean in that direction. As a noun tilt can mean a steep slant. When you climb Everest, you’ll find that the face of the mountain is at a dangerous tilt — it's very steep.

Example Sentences

Tilt Reiner’s filmography one way and it appears to be all about opposition, a restless yen to zag when others assumed he’d zig.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025

AGL’s retention of a 0.1% interest in Tilt fits with a continued strategic partnership featuring offtake agreements, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

He is survived by his wife and Full Tilt Ice Cream co-owner, Ann Magyar, and his children, Moss and Ruby.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2024

This analysis comes from The Tilt, a newsletter for Times subscribers.

From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2024

“Aww, okay. Tilt your head back, and just...”

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

Related Words

• bend
• dip
• incline
• lurch
• shift
• sway
• tip