: a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially in carbide materials and electrical components (such as lamp filaments) and in hardening alloys (such as steel) see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of tungsten in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The researchers then coupled that rod to another one, also made of tungsten but much longer, allowing each moth to fly in any direction while an optical sensor detected exactly where the insect was going, relative to north, every five seconds.
—
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
About 2 kilograms of tungsten is typically used in each electric car battery, said Michael Dornhofer, founder of metals consulting firm Independent Supply Business Partner.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 28 May 2025
In February, China then announced export controls on five critical minerals, including tungsten, an extremely hard metal used for precision cutting tools, weapons and semiconductor production.
—Evelyn Cheng,anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 June 2025
The platter fits onto a polished stainless-steel spindle that rides on a precision tungsten carbide ball in the high tolerance DG X main bearing housing.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tungsten
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
About 2 kilograms of tungsten is typically used in each electric car battery, said Michael Dornhofer, founder of metals consulting firm Independent Supply Business Partner.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 28 May 2025
In February, China then announced export controls on five critical minerals, including tungsten, an extremely hard metal used for precision cutting tools, weapons and semiconductor production.
—Evelyn Cheng,anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 June 2025
The platter fits onto a polished stainless-steel spindle that rides on a precision tungsten carbide ball in the high tolerance DG X main bearing housing.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tungsten
Cite this Entry
“Tungsten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tungsten. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Etymology
from Swedish tungsten, literally "heavy stone," from tung "heavy" and sten "stone"
Medical Definition
tungsten
noun
tung·sten
ˈtəŋ-stən 
: a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially for electrical purposes and in hardening alloys (as steel)
—symbol W
called also wolfram
see Chemical Elements TableLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share