taut

1 of 3

adjective

ˈtȯt 

1

a

: having no give or slack : tightly drawn

a taut rope

b

: high-strung, tense

taut nerves

2

a

: kept in proper order or condition

a taut ship

b(1)

: not loose or flabby

taut skin

(2)

: marked by economy of structure and detail

a taut story

tautly adverb

tautness noun

taut

2 of 3

verb

tauted; tauting; tauts

transitive verb

Scotland

: mat, tangle

taut-

3 of 3

combining form

variants or tauto-

: same

tautomerism

tautonym

Synonyms

Adjective

• rigid
• tense
• tight

Examples of taut in a Sentence

Adjective

The rope was drawn taut.

The book is a taut thriller.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But since 1994, when the Vancouver Canucks lost a taut seven-game series to the New York Rangers, the NHL’s Canadian teams have been only fleeting competitors for the Stanley Cup. —Matt Bonesteel, Washington Post, 24 June 2024

These six comedians are sure to get the crowds rolling at a venue near you John Mulaney A comedian who made the leap to legitimate superstar, Mulaney released the taut special Baby J in 2023 and in May the more meandering talk show Everybody’s in L.A. —David Walters, Peoplemag, 19 June 2024

Emphasis on the mozzarella — taut, shiny, white blobs of salty goodness made fresh daily in the house that mozzarella built. —New York Times, 18 June 2024

Available to stream on Max Max The Limey Year: 1999 Run Time: 89 minutes Director: Steven Soderbergh Steven Soderbergh was at the height of his powers with this taut crime thriller, which stars Terence Stamp as a British gangster out to avenge the death of his daughter. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English tought, perhaps from tought, toughth fierce, tough, alteration of tough tough

Verb

origin unknown

Combining form

Late Latin, from Greek, from tauto the same, contraction of to auto

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(1)

Verb

1721, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

taut

adjective

ˈtȯt

1

a

: drawn to the limit : not slack

taut rope

b

: high-strung, tense

taut nerves

2

: kept in proper order or condition

a taut ship

tautly adverb

tautness noun