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

See Examples For:

tennis

“The Cruelest Game” overlooks some of the most interesting trend lines in tennis today.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Mr. Sinner’s ex-coach Riccardo Piatti, who runs his own tennis academy on the Italian Riviera and frequently appears on television as a commentator, comes off as a one-man conglomerate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

When Björn Borg tried to return to tennis in 1991 after eight years in retirement, he played nine matches without winning a set.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Since her breakout semi-final performance at the Miami Open last year, Eala has re-ignited interest in tennis in the Philippines, a country obsessed with the three B's - basketball, boxing and beauty queens.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

How crusty would it look if Rue got me a tennis bracelet, and on her birthday, I handed her coupons to Popeyes?

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold