tense
Describes a person who is nervous, anxious, and unable to relax, often accompanied by physical stiffness. It also refers to a situation, relationship, or atmosphere characterized by strain, potential conflict, or extreme pressure.
Ejemplos
3 de 5I always feel incredibly tense before I have to give a presentation to a large audience.
I always feel incredibly nervous and stressed before I have to give a presentation to a large audience.
Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries have remained tense for several months.
Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries have remained strained for several months.
You need to relax; you're way too tense about this minor problem.
You need to relax; you're way too stressed about this minor problem.
Familia de palabras
Truco para recordar
Think of a 'Tense Tennis' player. Before a high-stakes serve, their muscles are 'tense' (tight) and the atmosphere is 'tense' (strained).
Quiz rápido
The air in the room was ____ as everyone waited for the election results to be announced.
¡Correcto!
La respuesta correcta es: tense
Ejemplos
I always feel incredibly tense before I have to give a presentation to a large audience.
everydayI always feel incredibly nervous and stressed before I have to give a presentation to a large audience.
Diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries have remained tense for several months.
formalDiplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries have remained strained for several months.
You need to relax; you're way too tense about this minor problem.
informalYou need to relax; you're way too stressed about this minor problem.
The researcher noted a tense dynamic between the control group and the experimental subjects.
academicThe researcher noted a strained dynamic between the control group and the experimental subjects.
The atmosphere in the boardroom became tense when the merger was suddenly cancelled.
businessThe atmosphere in the boardroom became filled with pressure when the merger was suddenly cancelled.
Familia de palabras
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
tense up
to make one's muscles or body rigid due to fear or stress
a tense standoff
a situation where two opponents are waiting for the other to act, filled with pressure
break the tension
to do something to make a strained situation more relaxed
Se confunde a menudo con
Intense refers to an extreme degree, depth, or strength (e.g., intense heat), while tense refers to a state of mental or physical strain.
Grammatical 'tense' (past, present) is a noun, whereas 'tense' as an adjective describes emotional or physical state.
Notas de uso
Use 'tense' to describe both people (internal feelings) and environments (external vibes). It often implies that something is 'stretched' to its limit and might break or explode.
Errores comunes
Learners sometimes use 'intense' when they mean 'tense'—remember that 'tense' is about stress/tightness, while 'intense' is about power/degree.
Truco para recordar
Think of a 'Tense Tennis' player. Before a high-stakes serve, their muscles are 'tense' (tight) and the atmosphere is 'tense' (strained).
Origen de la palabra
Derived from the Latin word 'tensus', the past participle of 'tendere', meaning 'to stretch'.
Patrones gramaticales
Quiz rápido
The air in the room was ____ as everyone waited for the election results to be announced.
¡Correcto!
La respuesta correcta es: tense
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