American Dictionary

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Definition tension in American English

tension noun

noun
/ˈtenʃ(ə)n/

▪ growing, heightened, increasing, mounting, rising

▪ aggravate, defuse, ease, exacerbate, heighten, increase, lessen, reduce, relieve

1

the feeling of being so nervous or worried that you cannot relax

Example

I tried to ease the tension (=make it less strong) with a joke.

Example

Symptoms include nervous tension, depression, and insomnia.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

the nervous feeling that you have when you are reading or watching something very exciting or frightening

Example

The tension is almost unbearable as the play approaches its climax.

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2

the feeling caused by a lack of trust between people, groups, or countries who do not agree about something and may attack each other

Example

Measures are needed to reduce tension between the two states.

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3

a situation in which opposing aims, ideas, or influences cause problems

Example

There is bound to be a certain tension between the freedom of individuals and the need for public safety.

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4

the degree to which something such as a rope or muscle is pulled tight

Example

Pull in the sail by increasing the tension of the rope.

Example

Can you feel the tension in your neck and shoulders?

Synonyms and related words
Definition tension in American English