tent

IPA/tent/
KK[tˈɛnt]IPA/tent/

tent — noun

  • tentsingular
  • tentsplural

1. A small, movable building made from strong cloth such as canvas or nylon, held u

1.nounA2
Definition

A small, movable building made from strong cloth such as canvas or nylon, held up by poles and held down by ropes, used to sleep or stay in when you are outdoors.

Example

Tyler set up his tent near the river before the rain started.

set up + tent — common collocation for assembling a tent

The old canvas tent kept the campers dry through the night.

Common collocations
  • pitch a tent
  • set up a tent
  • take down a tent
  • tent peg
  • tent pole
  • tent flap
  • camping tent
  • dome tent
Synonyms
  • shelter

    A broader term; a tent is one type of shelter, but 'shelter' can also mean a cave, building, or overhang.

  • canopy

    Usually an open cover without walls, unlike a tent which fully encloses a space.

  • pavilion

    A large, often decorated tent used for events or parties, not typically for camping.

Grammar Patterns

a tent

the tent

tents

Usage Note

Countable noun. Common verb partners include 'set up' (or 'pitch'), 'take down' (or 'strike'), 'put up', and 'fold'. A tent is typically used for camping or temporary outdoor shelter.

Common Mistakes

We put our tent at the hotel.
We set up our tent at the campsite.
'tent' is set up or pitched, not simply 'put', and it goes at a campsite, not a hotel.

tent — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A tent is a specific type of portable shelter made from fabric stretched over poles, used mainly for camping. 'Shelter' is a much broader term covering any place that protects from weather — a cave, a hut, a bus stop, or a tent all count as shelters. 'Canopy' refers to a roof-like cover that is open on the sides, such as a cloth awning over a doorway or the leafy cover of trees — it does not fully enclose you like a tent does. 'Pavilion' describes a large, often decorative tent used for weddings, parties, or exhibitions; it is usually too big and heavy to carry on a hike. If you are sleeping outdoors overnight, you need a tent, not a canopy or a pavilion.

tent ↗shelter ↗canopy ↗pavilion ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • set up a tent
  • pitch a tent
  • take down a tent
  • put up a tent
  • strike a tent
  • live in a tent
  • sleep in a tent

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'tent' came into English from Old French 'tente', which itself comes from Latin 'tentoria', meaning 'a thing stretched out'. The Latin verb 'tendere' means 'to stretch' — referring to the way canvas or cloth is stretched tightly over poles to form the shelter.