tension
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a feeling of fear or anger between two groups of people who do not trust each other.
n.a state of latent hostility or opposition between individuals, groups, or nations.
Simple“There was a lot of tension in the office after the manager announced the new rules.”
In context“Diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries escalated following the disagreement over maritime borders and fishing rights.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the state of being stretched tight, like a rope or a wire.
n.the condition of being held in a state between two or more opposing forces; the state of an elastic object being stretched.
Simple“Adjust the tension on the guitar string until it plays the right note.”
In context“The engineer calculated the maximum tension the suspension cables could withstand before the structural integrity of the bridge was compromised.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a feeling of being nervous or worried that makes it difficult to relax.
n.a psychological state of being stretched or strained; mental or emotional strain.
Simple“Yoga is a great way to release the tension in your body after a long day.”
In context“The constant pressure of meeting quarterly targets created a palpable sense of tension among the senior staff.”
Antonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the excitement or fear you feel when you don't know what will happen next in a story.
n.the controlled release of information in a narrative to create a feeling of nervousness or excitement in the audience.
Simple“The music in the film helped build the tension before the monster appeared.”
In context“The director masterfully maintained the dramatic tension throughout the second act, leaving the audience uncertain of the protagonist's fate until the final scene.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
n.a technical word for electrical power or voltage.
n.the potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit.
Simple“The warning sign on the fence said 'Danger: High Tension'.”
In context“The laboratory was equipped with high-tension wires to facilitate experiments requiring significant electrical discharge.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to pull something until it is tight.
v.to apply force to an object so that it becomes or remains taut.
Simple“You need to tension the belt correctly so the machine runs smoothly.”
In context“Before the final inspection, the technicians must tension the structural bolts to the exact specifications provided by the manufacturer.”
Usage reduce tension
Borrowed from Middle French tension, from Latin tēnsiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.