Definition

A sport where players use rackets to hit a light ball over a net on a rectangular court, either in singles or doubles matches.

Example

She plays tennis every Saturday with her friends.

Conversation

Have you ever played tennis before?

Yeah, I used to play it a lot in high school.

That's cool! I’ve always wanted to learn how to play tennis.

You should definitely give it a try; it's really fun!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tennis originates from the Old French word *tenez*, meaning 'take' or 'hold', which was used as a call to the opponent to receive the ball. The word reflects the game's origins in France, where it was played in the 12th century.

Memory Tip

Imagine a player calling out 'take' to their opponent as they serve the ball — this helps you remember that tennis comes from the Old French word for 'take'.

Visually Confused Words