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

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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

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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

Chief among them is the tension between Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after they contrived to throw away a potential one-two finish in Mexico last Sunday by tangling on the first lap.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

He stepped down from the Pentagon in September following months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the direction of the service and the ouster of numerous senior Army officers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

“We’ve seen the tension and chaos that’s in the air,” Brown said.

From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2026

The tension at the heart of the primary—and the feud between El-Sayed and Stevens—is less a policy disagreement than a moral one.

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

And the subsequent political history of the United States then became an oscillation between new versions of the old tension, which broke out in violence only on the occasion of the Civil War.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

TOKYO—Japan has lodged a formal protest against Russia’s seizure of Japan Tobacco 2914 5.23%increase; green up pointing triangle assets, creating a new flashpoint in bilateral tensions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

The Franco-Dutch carrier group reported strong profitability, showing that it can contain costs despite tensions in the Middle East keeping fuel prices elevated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

But there were healthy gains in Hong Kong and Shanghai, helped by hopes for an easing of trade tensions between the US and China, with tech titans including Alibaba, JD.com and Tencent.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

The dispute reflects longstanding tensions in an industry that employs more than four million people but has been dogged by complaints over pay, working conditions and labour rights.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

In June 2004, the tensions toward my people escalated quickly.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

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Related Words

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

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