tighten

[ tahyt-n ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become tight or tighter.

   Synonyms: fasten, anchor, secure

tighten

/ ˈtaɪtən /

verb

1. to make or become tight or tighter
2. tighten one's belt
   tighten one's belt to economize

Derived Forms

• ˈtightener, noun

Other Words From

• tighten·er noun
• over·tighten verb
• re·tighten verb
• self-tighten·ing adjective
• un·tighten verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of tighten¹

First recorded in 1720–30; tight + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Accordingly, Stepien has reportedly been working to tighten the campaign’s belt — which has included cutting back on TV ads in several key states.

From FiveThirtyEight

Take its Intelligent Tracking Prevention feature in Safari, which it has continued to tighten.

From Digiday

Even as revenue streams tightened, this year’s Resilience Awards finalists refused to panic — or to think selfishly.

From Digiday

Health care is also a highly regulated business, and restrictions on the use of telehealth, some of which were relaxed during the pandemic, could be tightened.

From Fortune

She thinks having a fingerprint verification might tighten security of the ballots even more.

From Fortune

The grasp on the sabre would tighten; the quiet eyes would flash.

From The Daily Beast

I tried to relax too, but I felt my stomach tighten and I began to sweat.

From The Daily Beast

Some media reports say Turkey has begun recently to tighten some controls in the border region.

From The Daily Beast

Democrats want to tighten disclosure laws (as with the proposed DISCLOSE Act) but have blocked raising contribution limits.

From The Daily Beast

Congress passed the Helms–Burton Act to tighten the sanctions regime and write it into the law.

From The Daily Beast

In that instant I felt fingers tighten on my arm, tighten till they bit into the flesh, and I was pulled back into safety.

From Project Gutenberg

I felt her grasp tighten about my neck, and her firm body crowd against me as we both sank down for an instant.

From Project Gutenberg

But the touch only seemed to make the great living knot tighten, and after a try Morgan ceased.

From Project Gutenberg

The cap should have a square nut for a wrench to tighten or unscrew the cap.

From Project Gutenberg

The doctor, peering after him with smoldering eyes, felt his finger tighten on the trigger.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• narrow
• stiffen
• toughen