American English
/ˈtʰɛn.ʃn̩/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
A worried or uncomfortable feeling caused by disagreement, fear, or a difficult situation.
Practice out loudA worried or uncomfortable feeling caused by disagreement, fear, or a difficult situation.
There is tension between the two teams.
You could feel the tension in the room.
For pressure caused by too much work or too many problems, stress is usually more natural.
growing tension · political tensions · relieve tension · racial tension
tension between + person or group A + and + person or group B
tension in + place or group
The tight, uncomfortable state of muscles, often causing pain or stiffness.
I have a lot of tension in my shoulders.
Stretching can reduce muscle tension.
muscle tension · neck tension · chronic tension · relieve muscle tension
tension in + body part
relieve tension in + body part
The pulling force in a rope, wire, or string that is stretched between two points.
The tension in the cable is too high.
The bridge uses cables kept under tension.
string tension · cable tension · maintain tension
the tension in + rope, wire, or cable
keep + rope, wire, or cable + under tension
something that causes disagreement or worry
Money problems are a source of tension at home.
a headache caused by tight muscles in the head, neck, or shoulders
I get tension headaches after long days at my computer.
stretched tightly and pulling at both ends
The cable must remain under tension.
Use tension for a general feeling and tensions for separate conflicts or problems.