- 1[transitive] tackle somebody to deal with someone who is violent or threatening you by grabbing them and gaining control over them He tackled a masked intruder at his home.
- 2[intransitive, transitive] tackle (somebody) (in football) to make an opponent fall to the ground in order to stop them from running
- 3[transitive, intransitive] tackle (somebody) (in soccer or hockey) to try and take the ball from an opponent He was tackled just outside the penalty area.
- 4[transitive] tackle something to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or situation The administration is determined to tackle inflation. I think I'll tackle the repairs next weekend. Firefighters tackled a blaze in a garage last night.
- 5[transitive] tackle somebody (about something) to speak to someone about a problem or difficult situation synonym confront I tackled him about the money he owed me.
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NAmE//ˈtækl//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they tackle he / she / it tackles
past simple tackled
-ing form tackling
Check pronunciation: tackle