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⇱ tense - WordReference.com English Collocations

tense

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈtɛns/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/tɛns/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(tens)

Inflections of 'tense' (adj):
tenser
adj comparative
tensest
adj superlative
Inflections of 'tense' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
tenses
v 3rd person singular
tensing
v pres p
tensed
v past
tensed
v past p

Collocations for "tense"


Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "tense" in context.

WordReference English Collocations © 2026

tense

ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.
adj
  1. a tense [finish, end, ending, finale] (to)
  2. a tense [situation, moment, day, time]
  3. a tense [match, competition, affair, interview]
  4. the [talks, negotiations] were tense
  5. the [talks] have [got, become] tense
  6. had a tense feel to it
  7. a tense and [nervy, unbearable, uncertain] feel
  8. the atmosphere seemed [quite, very, rather] tense
  9. well, that was tense!
  10. What are you so tense about?
  11. I'm feeling (very) tense
  12. (feeling) tense and [nervous, apprehensive]
  13. was tense with [nerves, fear, worry, excitement]
  14. a tense [crowd, audience, gathering]
  15. tense [onlookers, passengers, workers, parents, students]
  16. let her [shoulders, head, body] go tense
  17. tense [hands, legs, muscles, shoulders]
  18. [relaxed, loosened, stretched] his tense muscles
  19. a tense grip on [the lead, power, the rope]
  20. [his grip, the rope] went tense
v
  1. his [body, muscles, stomach, face] tensed (up)
  2. his [body] tensed (up) from the [pain, effort]
  3. she tensed (up) her [body]
  4. tensed (up) at the [sight, thought, sound] of [it, the voice]
  5. tensed (up) from the [sight] of [it]
  6. tensed (up) when he [saw, heard, imagined] [it]
  7. tensed (up) in [anticipation, dread, excitement]
  8. tensed (up) with [anticipation]
  9. the [rope, cord, harness] tensed
n
  1. the [present, future, past] tense
  2. learn a new tense
  3. [a confusing, an irregular] tense
  4. the verb's tense
  5. conjugate the different tenses
  6. got her verb tenses [mixed up, confused]
'tense' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

Forum discussions with the word(s) "tense" in the title:

.... saying my documents 'were' vs 'are' (reported speech: tense) - English Only forum
...won more and more medals. (Tense) - English Only forum
..and there was [more and more] being said about how my relationship with the media was tense. - English Only forum
''As'' - tense correction - English Only forum
'as if' (unreal situation) and Tense agreement - English Only forum
'Did you ask when he will come home for dinner?’ [Past tense and future tense] - English Only forum
'Do' as substitute verb and its tense - English Only forum
'eating, ate in Past Perfect Tense' - English Only forum
'Expect' in progressive tense - English Only forum
'for the last' + the past tense - English Only forum
'has been trading' in the past: Right tense? - English Only forum
'just' possible in past tense? - English Only forum
'never' with cont. tense - English Only forum
'Now waited' in a past tense story. - English Only forum
'Since when' with the past tense - English Only forum
'Since' with past tense. - English Only forum
'Two Subjects in a tense' - English Only forum
'What was enclosure?' (tense) - English Only forum
'When will' and the followed tense. - English Only forum
'when' and past simple tense - English Only forum
'will' in who-clause: the future tense - English Only forum
‘I went’ is (in) the past tense of the verb ‘to go’. - English Only forum
“must” in the past tense - English Only forum
“since” and the tense in the main clause - English Only forum
“since” and the tense in the main clause - English Only forum
(for) the first time + which tense? (past simple/past perfect) - English Only forum
(past tense of) you need not do something - English Only forum
(Tense) had been striving and failing - English Only forum
(Tense) has disapponted me/disppoints me - English Only forum
(Tense)had come/came - English Only forum
more...
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