verb
Meaning 1
To become tense.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
tense up
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
verb
Meaning 2
cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tense, strain
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: affect
Narrower terms: stretch, extend
verb
Meaning 3
become tense, nervous, or uneasy
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tense
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change state, turn
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.