tense up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I get this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I'm in danger, and I need to somehow control these noises."

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

When I’m telling one of those stories and I see someone tense up worrying how to react, I’d inevitably pull back and veer off.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2024

"We ignore them during the day, but our souls tense up when they ring at night," said resident Daniela Tanase.

From Reuters • Sep. 5, 2023

And pressuring yourself to do it right can cause you to tense up and make breathing deeply harder.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 17, 2023

Mom stares at it, and I tense up, ready for her to tell me to cross it out and write “Frankie” instead.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy