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
Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
After a tent encampment popped up Thursday at Indiana University Bloomington, police with shields and batons shoved into protesters and arrested 33.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tent 
Noun
Muslim students prayed and organizers took down tent poles at around 1:30 p.m., laying the gear flat on the ground in response to university requests to take down tent structures.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
After a tent encampment popped up Thursday at Indiana University Bloomington, police with shields and batons shoved into protesters and arrested 33.
—CBS News, 26 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 3 May. 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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