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

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

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

Whatever the Supreme Court decides after the states’ deadline next week, the underlying tension is worth sitting with.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

Actors and musicians learn to exist and create out of tension without rushing to resolve it.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

That opportunity comes with inherent tension over what to fund now and how much to save for the future.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Before the invasion, Turkish Cypriots made up around a fifth of the population of the former Ottoman and British colony where there had been years of inter-ethnic tension and violence.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

With the tension cracked, I knew I had to seize the moment.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

On Wednesday, Axios reported, citing an unnamed US official, that Trump had met with Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, who had conveyed that Saudi Arabia wants to de-escalate tensions.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

There, the effect from tensions in the Middle East was even more dramatic, curbing growth by about three percentage points, said Guerra.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

The surge has prompted comparisons with May 2021, when around 8,000 people entered Ceuta over a matter of days, exacerbating diplomatic tensions with Morocco.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

However, upside from renewed Middle East tensions was likely more limited than during the March supply disruption.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

They had no tensions, unappeasable longings, no desire to do something to redeem themselves.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Related Words

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