tense

nouns

a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time

tense

is a type of (narrower)

(grammar) a category of words having the same grammatical properties

grammatical category, syntactic category

verbs

become stretched or tense or taut

"the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"

strain, tense

is derived from

tension

is derived from

tension

increase the tension on

"alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"; "tense the rope manually before tensing the spring"

tense

is derived from

tension

is derived from

tension

is a type of (narrower)

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

"The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"

alter, change, modify

become tense, nervous, or uneasy

"He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room"

tense, tense up

is derived from

tension

is derived from

tensor

antonym

relax

cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious

"he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"

strain, tense, tense up

is derived from

tension

antonym

relax

adjectives

in or of a state of physical or nervous tension

tense

is derived from

tenseness

antonym

relaxed

is similar to

brought to a state of great tension

"all wound up for a fight"

aroused, wound up

is similar to

(of a situation) characterized by or causing suspense

cliff-hanging, nail-biting, suspenseful, suspensive

is similar to

subjected to great tension; stretched tight

"the skin of his face looked drawn and tight"; "her nerves were taut as the strings of a bow"

taut

is similar to

nervous and unable to relax

"a constant fretful stamping of hooves"; "a restless child"

antsy, fidgety, fretful, itchy

is similar to

being in a tense state

edgy, high-strung, highly strung, jittery, jumpy, nervy, overstrung, restive, uptight

is similar to

(of a situation) exceptionally tense

"an atmosphere electric with suspicion"

electric

is similar to

of two or more muscles; having equal tension

isotonic

is similar to

easily agitated

"a nervous addict"; "a nervous thoroughbred"

nervous

is similar to

showing signs of mental and emotional tension

"her voice was strained as she asked the question"

strained

is similar to

nor relaxed

"his life was drawing to a close in baffled zeal and unrelaxed strain"- U.B.Phillips

unrelaxed

is similar to

tense with excitement and enthusiasm as from a rush of adrenaline

"we were really pumped up for the race"; "he was so pumped he couldn't sleep"

pumped, pumped up, pumped-up, wired