Illustration of tackle
- tackle 2b
1
: a set of the equipment used in a particular activity : gear
fishing tackle
2
a
: a ship's rigging
b
: an assemblage of ropes and pulleys arranged to gain mechanical advantage for hoisting and pulling
3
a
: the act or an instance of tackling
b(1)
: either of two offensive football players positioned on each side of the center and between guard and end
(2)
: either of two football players positioned on the inside of a defensive line
tackled; tackling
ˈta-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to seize, take hold of, or grapple with especially with the intention of stopping or subduing
b
: to seize and throw down or stop (an opposing player with the ball) in football
2
: to set about dealing with
tackle the problem
3
: to attach or secure with or as if with tackle
: to tackle an opposing player in football
Synonyms of tackle
Examples of tackle in a Sentence
Noun
a box for fishing tackle
He made two tackles in the first half.
Verb
The police officer tackled him as he tried to escape.
He was tackled at the line of scrimmage.
I'll tackle my homework later.
We found new ways to tackle the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Roseman could draft for the next few years and might not find a tight end with that athletic profile or an offensive tackle with that size, and those are realities that the general manager values when making the evaluation.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Residents of the usually picturesque Russian resort town of Tuapse were this week warned not to leave the homes or open windows as authorities tackled intense fires from a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on the town’s oil refinery.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tackle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
King had 6 1/2 sacks among his 30 tackles for the Aztecs.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Roseman could draft for the next few years and might not find a tight end with that athletic profile or an offensive tackle with that size, and those are realities that the general manager values when making the evaluation.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
Famously, Hathaway was far down on the casting wish list for the role of fashion neophyte Andrea Sachs, so this timeless performance is nothing if not a testament to what happens when an eternal theater kid tackles a role with something to prove.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Residents of the usually picturesque Russian resort town of Tuapse were this week warned not to leave the homes or open windows as authorities tackled intense fires from a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on the town’s oil refinery.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tackle
Cite this Entry
“Tackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tackle. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
: a set of special equipment : gear
fishing tackle
2
: an arrangement of ropes and wheels for hoisting or pulling something heavy
3
a
: the act or an instance of tackling
b
: a football player who is positioned on the line of scrimmage and inside the ends
tackle
2 of 2 verb
tackled; tackling
ˈtak-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to seize or take hold of especially in order to stop or throw down
2
: to set about dealing with
tackle a problem
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