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REFERENCE

tens

n.
US //ˈtɛnz// UK //tˈɛnz// tens
  1. 1 groups of ten (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    more than one group of ten things.

    the plural form of the cardinal number ten, used to denote multiple sets of ten units.

    Example

    The teacher asked the children to count the beads in tens.

    Example

    The data was organized into tens to make the large-scale survey results easier for the analysts to process at a glance.

  2. 2 an approximate number (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a large but inexact number of things, usually between 20 and 100.

    an indefinite but significant quantity, typically ranging from twenty to ninety-nine.

    Example

    Tens of thousands of people gathered in the square for the concert.

    Example

    Tens of protesters remained outside the embassy long after the sun had set, refusing to leave until their demands were heard.
  3. 3 the decade (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the years in a century that end in 10 through 19.

    the period of years from '10 to '19 within a given century.

    Example

    Fashion changed quite a lot during the tens.

    Example

    The early tens saw a massive shift in how people consumed digital media compared to the previous decade.
    • the teens
  4. 4 a perfect score (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    perfect scores or people who are considered very attractive.

    plural instances of the highest possible rating on a scale of one to ten.

    Example

    The gymnast received straight tens from all the judges.

    Example

    After a flawless performance, the athlete was delighted to see a row of tens appear on the scoreboard.
Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026