tennis

American  

[ten-is] / ˈtɛn ɪs /

noun

1. a game played on a rectangular court by two players or two pairs of players equipped with rackets, in which a ball is driven back and forth over a low net that divides the court in half.

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tennis British  

/ ˈtɛnɪs /

noun

1. 1. a racket game played between two players or pairs of players who hit a ball to and fro over a net on a rectangular court of grass, asphalt, clay, etc See also lawn tennis real tennis court tennis table tennis

   2. ( as modifier )

      tennis court

      tennis racket

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Etymology

Origin of tennis

1350–1400; Middle English tenetz, ten ( e ) ys < Anglo-French: take!, imperative plural of tenir to hold, take, receive, apparently used as a server's call

Explanation

Tennis anyone? Tennis is a sport that's played with a small, felt-covered rubber ball and rackets. The basic goal in tennis is hitting the ball across a net. There are two types of tennis: singles, when two individuals face off, and doubles, which involves teams of two players. If you can hit a tennis ball with a racket, you can play tennis. Historians believe that tennis grew out of a 12th century French game called la paulme, "the palm," in which players hit a ball with their hands. The word tennis comes from the Anglo-French tenetz, "Hold! Take! Receive!" which players called out before serving.

Example Sentences

Few things say “British summer” like sipping a glass of Pimm’s and watching some of the world’s best athletes compete at grass-court tennis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026

Scores of smaller venues - like rugby and tennis clubs - are also hosting watch parties.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026

Open tennis tournament and the fast-approaching NFL season, it’s shaping up to be another big year for sports viewership — and tapping into these events can really pay off for media companies.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

Serena recently returned to competition after almost four years away from professional tennis.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

He also wore a white T-shirt and white tennis shoes.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez