tether

American  

[teth-er] / ˈtɛð ər /

noun

tethers plural

1. a rope, chain, or the like, by which an animal is fastened to a fixed object so as to limit its range of movement.

2. the utmost length to which one can go in action; the utmost extent or limit of ability or resources.

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verb (used with object)

tethers, present (3rd person singular) tethered, past participle, past tethering present participle

1. to fasten or confine with or as if with a tether.

2. Digital Technology. to use (an electronic device, usually a smartphone or tablet) to enable a wireless internet connection on another nearby device, often a laptop.

   There's no Wi-Fi, so I'll have to tether my phone to my laptop.

verb (used without object)

tethers, present (3rd person singular) tethered, past participle, past tethering present participle

1. Digital Technology. to use an electronic device to enable a wireless internet connection on another device.

idioms

1. at the end of one's tether, at the end of one's resources, patience, or strength.

tether British  

/ ˈtɛðə /

noun

1. a restricting rope, chain, etc, by which an animal is tied to a particular spot

2. the range of one's endurance, etc

3. distressed or exasperated to the limit of one's endurance

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verb

1. (tr) to tie or limit with or as if with a tether

tether More Idioms  

1. see end of one's rope (tether).

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• untethering
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tethers
  plural

Participles

• tethering
  present
• tethered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• tether
  simple
• tethers
  simple
• have tethered
  perfect
• has tethered
  perfect
• am tethering
  progressive
• are tethering
  progressive
• is tethering
  progressive
• have been tethering
  perfect progressive
• has been tethering
  perfect progressive

Past

• tethered
  simple
• had tethered
  perfect
• was tethering
  progressive
• were tethering
  progressive
• had been tethering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will tether
  simple
• will have tethered
  perfect
• will be tethering
  progressive
• will have been tethering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of tether

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun); compare Old Norse tjōthr, Dutch tuier

Explanation

Both a verb and a noun, tether keeps things tied together, or is the tie itself. Remember, when you tether that chair to those balloons, use a strong tether. You don't want to drop from the sky because you tied them together using a cheap piece of rope. Think of the childhood game tether-ball. The ball is tethered to a pole by a tether. Tether usually refers to a rope or a chain, but it can also refer to an invisible bond or link. For example, the Internet can serve as a tether that links you to your pen pal in Germany. The love between a mother and her child keeps them tethered to each other for a lifetime. And whenever astronauts go for jaunts outside the space station, they tether themselves to the station using wires and a hook.

Example Sentences

Whatever path Iranian funds take, they almost inevitably touch the dollar, in practice through dollar-pegged stablecoins, principally Tether, favored for its global liquidity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

The biggest buyer of gold last year was Tether, the stablecoin issuer, with over 100 tons.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

That said, the largest stablecoin issuer, Tether, was an even larger purchaser of gold in 2025, the ECB said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Following the latest purchases, Tether Holdings continues to own a 13.5% stake in Gold Royalty’s outstanding stock.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Penelope readied the Temporary Ostrich Tether she had fashioned out of the twine that had been left in the trunk, back at the cave.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• cord
• harness
• leash
• rope
• shackle