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
Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
But using the police to clear out tents will play right into the protesters’ hands.
—Dan Lennington, National Review, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tent 
Noun
After pitching tents and erecting barricades of wooden pallets and sheets of plywood, Ellis, a 21-year-old international student from Brazil, took shifts guarding the entrance.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
But using the police to clear out tents will play right into the protesters’ hands.
—Dan Lennington, National Review, 9 May 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 13 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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