tense
adjective
stretched tight, as a cord, fiber, etc.; drawn taut; rigid.
had tensed
-
past perfectof tense.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The United States government had grown wary after the Mexican Revolution began in 1910, and relations had tensed as each side accused the other of banditry and incursions.
From New York Times ● Feb. 5, 2018
He waved to the guards, who had tensed up at the noise.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Every time they had passed in the hall, she had tensed visibly, wrinkling her nose as though he’d carried a terrible stench with him.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Her whole body had tensed up, knowing she’d walked into a reveal dinner, which meant they were moving again.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
He knew by the little interval before she answered that she had tensed.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
