Library / English Dictionary

TENSE UP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious

Example:

he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up

Synonyms:

strain; tense; tense up

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "tense up" is one way to...):

affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)

Cause:

tense; tense up (become tense, nervous, or uneasy)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tense up"):

extend; stretch (extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become tense, nervous, or uneasy

Example:

He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room

Synonyms:

tense; tense up

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "tense up" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody's (body part) ----s

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