How to Pronounce "tense"
word
/ˈtɛns/
tens
/tˈɛns/
tens
Definition
If a person or situation is tense, there is nervousness, stress, or a feeling that something difficult may happen. In grammar, tense is the form of a verb that shows time, such as past, present, or future.
IPA Transcription
American English
/ˈtɛns/
British English
/tˈɛns/
Simplified Pronunciation
US
tens
UK
tens
Listen in Context
She looked tense before the exam.
It was a tense silence in the room.
In this sentence, the verb is in the past tense.
Things got tense when nobody agreed on a plan.