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tension
/ˈtɛnʃən/
mental or emotional strain
The job interview caused a lot of tension in her stomach.
The stress of the interview made her feel physically uneasy.
neutral
A state of mental or emotional strain resulting from demanding circumstances.
Family gatherings often create tension when political topics arise.
Discussions about politics can make family meetings uncomfortable.
Often used to describe interpersonal or social stress.
Engineering
technical
The state of being stretched tight; physical strain.
The tension in the guitar string must be adjusted for the correct pitch.
The string's tightness affects the sound it produces.
In physics/engineering, refers to force per unit area in a stretched material.
neutral
A strained relationship between people or groups.
There was noticeable tension between the two departments after the merger.
The departments struggled to cooperate after the company combined.
Common in workplace or political contexts.
Collocations
high tensiona situation with extreme stress or pressurerelease tensionto reduce stress or anxietymuscle tensionphysical tightness in muscles
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Avoid using 'tension' to describe physical objects under pressure (e.g., 'a tension of 50N'). Instead, use 'force' or 'load'.
Gold Rule
When to Use 'Tension'
Use for emotional/mental strain or relationships. For physical stretching, specify the context (e.g., 'muscle tension', 'rope tension').
Word Origin
From Latin 'tensio' (stretching, strain), from 'tendere' (to stretch). Entered English in the 16th century with both physical and psychological meanings.
Usage Notes
Can be countable (e.g., 'The tensions between them were obvious') or uncountable (e.g., 'Tension filled the room').
Word Breakdown
tens-
to stretch
root-ion
action or state of
suffixEnglish Dictionary