tens: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; common in mathematical, statistical, and general descriptive contexts.
Quick answer
What does “tens” mean?
The plural form of the number ten, specifically denoting a group or quantity of ten items, or units in the tens place in a numerical system.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The plural form of the number ten, specifically denoting a group or quantity of ten items, or units in the tens place in a numerical system.
Used to refer to a range of numbers from 10 to 19, a decade (e.g., the 1910s), or a set of items grouped in tens. Can also refer to a score of ten in games or evaluations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in core meaning. In informal UK contexts, 'tens' might be heard in darts or scoring ('He hit two tens'). In the US, 'tens' is common in statistical reports.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. No significant connotative difference.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in financial/statistical contexts (e.g., 'rounded to the nearest tens of thousands').
Grammar
How to Use “tens” in a Sentence
[Noun] in the tens[Verb] by tens[Number] followed by tens of [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tens” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The votes were counted in tens.
- She sorted the coins into neat piles of tens.
- The temperature will be in the low tens tomorrow.
American English
- The damage is estimated in the tens of millions.
- Round the figure to the nearest tens place.
- His age was in the mid-tens when he started the company.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The project budget ran into the tens of millions."
Academic
"The data was aggregated into groups of tens for statistical analysis."
Everyday
"I need to exchange this note for some tens and fives."
Technical
"The binary-coded decimal represents the tens digit separately."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tens”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tens”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tens”
- Using 'tens' as a singular (e.g., 'a tens of people').
- Confusing 'tens' with 'teen' numbers (13-19).
- Using 'ten' in plural contexts where grouping is implied (e.g., 'It costs ten of pounds').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'tens' is exclusively plural. The singular is 'ten' or 'a ten'.
Yes, informally it can refer to that range, especially in contexts like age ('in his tens') or temperature ('in the low tens').
'Tens of' means multiples of ten (20, 30, 40...). 'Dozens of' means multiples of twelve (24, 36, 48...), but is often used more loosely to mean 'many'.
The possessive 'tens'' is pronounced identically to the standard plural /tɛnz/. E.g., 'The tens' place value is crucial.'
The plural form of the number ten, specifically denoting a group or quantity of ten items, or units in the tens place in a numerical system.
Tens is usually neutral to formal; common in mathematical, statistical, and general descriptive contexts. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the tens of thousands”
- “Not in the same tens league”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of your two hands with all fingers extended – that's a 'ten'. Now imagine several such groups: those are 'tens'.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY AS HEIGHT/LEVEL (e.g., 'temperatures in the low tens', 'scores in the mid-tens').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'tens' used INCORRECTLY?