# tennis

/ˈtɛnəs/ (US) · /tˈɛnɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tennis
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the sport

noun · CEFR A1

a sport played with racquets and a ball on a court divided by a net.

For teachers: a racket sport played on a rectangular court with a net across the center, involving either two players or two pairs of players.

- She plays tennis every Saturday morning at the local park.
- The professional tennis circuit requires athletes to maintain peak physical condition while adapting to various court surfaces like grass, clay, and hard court.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the sport itself.

## Examples

- I play tennis with my friends every Saturday morning.
- The local sports club has four grass courts where members can play tennis during the summer months.
- Professional tennis requires not only exceptional physical stamina and hand-eye coordination but also the mental fortitude to remain focused during matches that can last several hours.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.