1
: a collapsible shelter of fabric (such as nylon or canvas) stretched and sustained by poles and used for camping outdoors or as a temporary building
2
: dwelling
3
a
: something that resembles a tent or that serves as a shelter
especially
: a canopy or enclosure placed over the head and shoulders to retain vapors or oxygen being medically administered
b
: the web of a tent caterpillar
tented; tenting; tents
Examples of tent in a Sentence
Noun
a huge tent was erected for the outdoor wedding reception
Recent Examples on the Web
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
Loading your audio article A man accused of driving an SUV through a homeless man’s tent before leading officers on a high-speed pursuit, from El Cajon to downtown San Diego, was arrested Monday, police said.
—Caleb Lunetta, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024
Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 5 May 2024
But while the setting was ideal, the conditions were not: The temperature reached nearly 100 degrees that day and lots of feisty bees were buzzing around the chefs’ workstations, which were not tented under the blazing sun.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tent 
Noun
Students put up tents in April to protest Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
Loading your audio article A man accused of driving an SUV through a homeless man’s tent before leading officers on a high-speed pursuit, from El Cajon to downtown San Diego, was arrested Monday, police said.
—Caleb Lunetta, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024
Verb
On the pink and white tented rooftop terrace, guests enjoyed the refreshing spring air while savoring signature canapés that circulated the room.
—Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 5 May 2024
But while the setting was ideal, the conditions were not: The temperature reached nearly 100 degrees that day and lots of feisty bees were buzzing around the chefs’ workstations, which were not tented under the blazing sun.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tent
Cite this Entry
“Tent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tent. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tent
1 of 2 noun1
: a portable shelter (as of nylon) stretched and supported by poles
2
a
: something that resembles a tent or that serves as a shelter
especially
: an enclosure placed over the head and shoulders to hold in oxygen or vapors given for medical reasons
an oxygen tent
b
: the web of a tent caterpillar
tent
2 of 2 verb1
: to live in a tent
2
: to cover with or as if with a tent
Medical Definition
tent
noun
: a canopy or enclosure placed over the head and shoulders to retain vapors or oxygen during medical administration
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