English Reference
Noun

tightrope

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈtaɪˌtɹoʊp/ UK /tˈaɪtɹəʊp/ tightrope UK spelling tightroped, tightropes, tightroping

n.a thin, strong rope stretched between two points. People walk on it for fun or as a performance to show their balance.

n.a slender, taut rope or wire stretched between two supports. Often used as a platform for acrobatic performances or as a metaphor for a precarious situation.


SIMPLE

The tightrope walker moves slowly across the high wire.

CONTEXTUAL

The circus performer practiced walking the tightrope for hours to ensure a flawless performance for the audience.

COMPLEX

Balancing on a tightrope requires not only physical coordination but also a mental focus that allows the performer to ignore the height and the movement of the wind.

Experts from 75 countries and 250 cities are trying to walk the tightrope of creating more cooling to reduce deaths from the rising heat, but without worsening climate change.

Phys.org· 31 Aug 2026

For the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too.

The Guardian· 26 Aug 2026

From tight + rope.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated