Use tame for making a wild animal manageable, and by extension for reducing the force of something difficult, risky, or unruly.
Use tame for making a wild animal manageable, and by extension for reducing the force of something difficult, risky, or unruly.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She tame the horse every morning. | She tames the horse every morning. |
| He tame the stray cat last year. | He tamed the stray cat last year. |
| I need to tame the exam tomorrow. | I need to take the exam tomorrow. |
| They tamed wolves into dogs in one afternoon. | They tamed a frightened dog in one afternoon. |
Use tame for an animal that behaves calmly around people, not simply for one that is trapped or kept indoors.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The rabbits are very tames. | The rabbits are very tame. |
| A zoo tiger is automatically tame. | A zoo tiger may still be wild. |
| The cat is tamed and friendly. | The cat is tame and friendly. |
| The tame fox has never been around people. | The wild fox has never been around people. |
Use tame for something that feels disappointingly mild, restrained, or unadventurous, especially beside what was expected.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I felt tame after the long flight. | I felt tired after the long flight. |
| The baby is tame now that she is asleep. | The baby is calm now that she is asleep. |
| The movie was tame because I did not understand it. | The movie was confusing because I did not understand it. |
| The curry was tame because it was cooked safely. | The curry was tame because it was not spicy enough. |
Use tame for control and mildness: trained animals, subdued forces, gentle behavior, or something that lacks expected energy or edge.
Tames is wrongly used as an adjective plural, and the verb loses its third-person -s in sentences such as she tame the horse.
From Old English tam, meaning gentle or domesticated, with relatives in Old High German zam and Latin domare, meaning to tame.
What does tame mean as a verb?
As a verb, tame means to train an animal to be manageable or to bring something wild, difficult, or intense under control.
What does tame mean as an adjective?
As an adjective, tame can mean domesticated and gentle, or dull and not very exciting.
Is tame the same as domesticated?
Not exactly. A single animal can be tame, while domestication usually describes a species changed over generations.
Can tame mean boring?
Yes. A tame film, party, flavor, or design feels too mild, safe, or unexciting.
What is the past tense of tame?
The past tense and past participle are both tamed.
What are common opposites of tame?
For animals, common opposites include wild, feral, and untamed. For dullness, opposites include exciting, lively, and bold.