MEANING
To become rigid or tense, especially in response to alarm or anticipated harm.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- stiffen at a sound
- stiffen with apprehension
- shoulders stiffen
On the page
Her shoulders stiffened when the lock began to turn.
He stiffened at the officer’s mention of his brother.
The horse stiffened beneath her as the unseen engine roared.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- stiffen / stiffens
- Past tense
- stiffened
- Past participle
- stiffened
- Present participle
- stiffening
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- stiffen / stiffens
- Present continuous
- am/is/are stiffening
- Present perfect
- have/has stiffened
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been stiffening
- Past
- stiffened
- Past continuous
- was/were stiffening
- Past perfect
- had stiffened
- Past perfect continuous
- had been stiffening
- Future
- will stiffen / stiffens
- Future continuous
- will be stiffening
- Future perfect
- will have stiffened
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been stiffening
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: fear. May be a brief muscular preparation rather than complete immobility; also describes materials becoming rigid. Verb forms (base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing): stiffen, stiffens, stiffened, stiffened, stiffening.
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