- [uncountable, countable, usually plural] a situation in which people do not trust each other, or feel unfriendly towards each other, and that may cause them to attack each other
- There is mounting tension along the border.
- international/racial/political tensions
- Family tensions and conflicts may lead to violence.
- tension between A and B The incident has further increased tension between the two countries.
Extra ExamplesTopics Social issuesb2- In the early 1960s, new tensions arose between the United States and the USSR.
- Money was always a source of tension between her parents.
- More police have been sent to areas of high political tension.
- Tensions in their family were running high.
- She often used humour to defuse tension in meetings.
- The job losses caused greater tensions within the company.
- tension between local youths and the police
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- high
- …
- cause
- create
- generate
- …
- build up
- grow
- increase
- …
- tension among
- tension between
- tension in
- …
- a source of tension
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- [countable, uncountable] tension (between A and B) a situation in which the fact that there are different needs or interests causes difficulties
- There is often a tension between the aims of the company and the wishes of the employees.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- high
- …
- cause
- create
- generate
- …
- build up
- grow
- increase
- …
- tension among
- tension between
- tension in
- …
- a source of tension
- [uncountable] a feeling of worry and stress that makes it impossible to relax
- nervous tension
- We laughed and that helped ease the tension.
- Walking and swimming are excellent for releasing tension.
- a tension headache
Synonyms pressurepressurestress ▪ tension ▪ strainThese are all words for the feelings of worry caused by the problems in somebody’s life.pressure difficulties and feelings of worry that are caused by the need to achieve something or to behave in a particular way:- She was unable to attend because of the pressures of work.
- stress-related illnesses
- nervous tension
- I found it a strain looking after four children.
- to be under pressure/stress/strain
- considerable pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to cause stress/tension/strain
- to cope with the pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to relieve/release the pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to be suffering from stress/tension
Extra Examples- He suffers from nervous tension.
- Horses are very sensitive to signs of tension in humans.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- inner
- emotional
- nervous
- …
- feel
- suffer from
- sense
- …
- headache
- tension in
- a release of tension
- a sign of tension
- [uncountable] the feeling of fear and excitement that is created by a writer or a film director
- dramatic tension
- As the movie progresses the tension builds.
Extra ExamplesTopics Film and theatreb2, Literature and writingb2- Tension builds around the mystery of what will happen to Freddie.
- The tension among the audience was palpable.
- the use of editing to heighten the tension
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- dramatic
- build
- heighten
- increase
- …
- build
- grow
- mount
- …
- [uncountable] the state of being stretched tight; the extent to which something is stretched tight
- muscular tension
- Adjust the string tension of your tennis racket to suit your style of playing.
- When knitting, try to keep the same tension throughout.
- Massage can relieve tension in your shoulders and back.
Extra Examples- The sudden tension on the line told me I had hooked a fish.
- The metal is weak in tension.
- Stay clear of cables which are under tension.
- The hot bath eased the tension in his body.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- string
- adjust
- release
- in tension
- under tension
- tension on
- …
Word Originmid 16th cent. (as a medical term denoting a condition or feeling of being physically stretched or strained): from French, or from Latin tensio(n-), from tendere ‘stretch’.
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tension