1
a
: the highest natural adult male singing voice
also
: a person having this voice
b
: the voice part next to the lowest in a 4-part chorus
c
: a member of a family of instruments having a range next lower than that of the alto
d
: the melodic line usually forming the cantus firmus in medieval music
2
a
: the drift of something spoken or written : purport
b
: an exact copy of a writing : transcript
c
: the concept, object, or person meant in a metaphor
3
: a continuance in a course, movement, or activity
4
: habitual condition : character
: relating to or having the range or part of a tenor
Examples of tenor in a Sentence
Noun
He has a high, lilting tenor.
She asked the tenors to sing the line again.
The tenor of his remarks is clear.
Adjective
Verdi wrote some difficult tenor parts.
She plays the tenor sax.
Recent Examples on the Web
Spin Staff, SPIN, 9 Apr. 2024
American soprano Corinne Winters and her husband, British tenor Adam Smith, play the lead roles.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024
In a release, the tenor said that the song is part of a larger project to mark the milestone.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024
But the tenor of the conversation has changed as more jobs are created and structures go up.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
His tenor has currents of impatient energy running under it.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
Soloists include soprano Nola Richardson, countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, and tenor Thomas Cooley.
Details: 7 p.m. today; First Congregational Church, Berkeley; $35-$95; cityboxoffice.com.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
His soaring tenor is singularly beautiful, and everyone who hears him is touched by the lyric quality of his singing.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
Current members of the E Street Horns Ed Manion: tenor and baritone saxophone, percussion (1989, 2012-2014, 2023-present).
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024
Noun
Bay Area resident Neil Young happened to be hanging out behind the scenes, and sensing the increasingly angry tenor of the 50,000-strong crowd, came onstage without any prep to finish the concert with the non-singing members of Pearl Jam backing him up.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 9 Apr. 2024
American soprano Corinne Winters and her husband, British tenor Adam Smith, play the lead roles.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024
In a release, the tenor said that the song is part of a larger project to mark the milestone.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024
But the tenor of the conversation has changed as more jobs are created and structures go up.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
His tenor has currents of impatient energy running under it.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
Soloists include soprano Nola Richardson, countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, and tenor Thomas Cooley.
Details: 7 p.m. today; First Congregational Church, Berkeley; $35-$95; cityboxoffice.com.
—Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
His soaring tenor is singularly beautiful, and everyone who hears him is touched by the lyric quality of his singing.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
Current members of the E Street Horns Ed Manion: tenor and baritone saxophone, percussion (1989, 2012-2014, 2023-present).
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tenor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to tenor
Dictionary Entries Near tenor
Cite this Entry
“Tenor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenor. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tenor
1 of 2 noun
ten·or
ˈten-ər 
1
: the general meaning of something spoken or written
the tenor of the book
2
a
: the next to lowest musical part in harmony for four parts compare alto sense 1b, bass entry 2 sense 1a, soprano entry 2 sense 1
b
: the highest natural adult male singing voice or a person who has such a voice
c
: a person or instrument performing a part next above a bass part
3
: a continuing in a course, movement, or activity
the tenor of my life
tenor
2 of 2 adjective
: relating to or having the range or part of a tenor
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share