fasten
Americanverb (used with object)
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fastens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
fastened,
past participle, past
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fastening
present participle
-
to attach firmly or securely in place; fix securely to something else.
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to make secure, as an article of dress with buttons, clasps, etc., or a door with a lock, bolt, etc.
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to enclose securely, as a person or an animal (usually followed byin ).
to fasten a monkey in a cage.
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to attach, associate, or connect.
to fasten a nickname on someone.
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to direct (the eyes, thoughts, etc.) intently.
to fasten one's eyes on a speaker.
verb (used without object)
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fastens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
fastened,
past participle, past
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fastening
present participle
-
to become fast, fixed, or firm.
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to close firmly or securely; lock.
This clasp won't fasten.
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to take a firm hold; seize (usually followed by on orupon ).
to fasten on an idea.
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to focus attention; concentrate (usually followed by on orupon ).
His gaze fastened on the jewels.
verb
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to make or become fast or secure
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to make or become attached or joined
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to close or become closed by fixing firmly in place, locking, etc
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(tr; foll by in or up) to enclose or imprison
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to cause (blame, a nickname, etc) to be attached (to); place (on) or impute (to)
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to direct or be directed in a concentrated way; fix
he fastened his gaze on the girl
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take firm hold (of)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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fastensimple
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fastenssimple
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have fastenedperfect
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has fastenedperfect
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am fasteningprogressive
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are fasteningprogressive
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is fasteningprogressive
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have been fasteningperfect progressive
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has been fasteningperfect progressive
Past
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fastenedsimple
-
had fastenedperfect
-
was fasteningprogressive
-
were fasteningprogressive
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had been fasteningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of fasten
before 900; Middle English fastenen, Old English fæstnian; cognate with Old Norse fastna to betroth; akin to fast 1
Explanation
When you fasten something, you close or attach it. You might fasten your coat, closing each snap, when the sun goes down and the air gets chilly. People fasten all kinds of things: we all fasten our seat belts when we board an airplane and fasten our bathrobes by tying them in the front. Your ski goggles might fasten onto your helmet, just as your boots fasten onto your skis. You can also say that you fasten your hair with a barrette or fasten a charm bracelet around your wrist. The Old English root is fæstnian, "make fast or firm."
Vocabulary lists containing fasten
"A Universe of Stars"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
As for the second question, if I were former Dodgers owner and aerial tram godfather Frank McCourt, I’d fasten my seat belt, because the gondola is about to hit some heavy turbulence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
The implied exhortation is that readers should fasten their seatbelts for a rare old ride.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
At designer Rowen Rose, a large orange stone was used to fasten a green or yellow scarf to a matching sweater.
From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026
Reusable pads look similar to disposable ones but are usually made from cotton or bamboo and fasten around your underwear with poppers.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2025
“The captain requests that, for your safety, you should fasten your seatbelts,” a stewardess said.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
Later he fastens his attentions on an unthreatening neighbor and his daughter, who has a crush on Frank.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026
As a song—“Just a Little Bit of Light”—plays, he lifts a large menorah from his car, fastens it onto the roof, lights it, and dances beside it, out in the street.
From Slate ● Dec. 19, 2025
She fastens chunky gold hoop earrings and clips on her gold Olympic necklace.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2024
The mantle, which fastens across the chest with a golden eagle clasp, is inspired by ancient coronation ensembles and its priest-like style is meant to symbolise the divine nature of kingship.
From BBC ● May 1, 2023
Lidia fastens a top onto the bottle and tosses it to me, right when Penny screams louder.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
On long red ribbons fastened to a metal structure around a tree trunk, people wrote wishes for success at work or school.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
“As a result, we would suggest you remain seated with your seat belts fastened, as we expect more near-term turbulence.”
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
Recently though, instead of the soft red petals, some people have been opting for the brown, blue or purple of crisp banknotes, folded, rolled or fastened together into floral-like bouquets.
From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2026
“We all fastened our seat belts because we’re Venezuelans — we weren’t supposed to be there” in El Salvador, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2025
I described the hinge that never quite fastened, the edges that didn’t line up, and the paint that dried a little bumpy—so many imperfections that usually would have bugged me but didn’t.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
Visitors also encountered the phonograph and early mechanical fastening devices that foreshadowed later developments in clothing closures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
Arciga fastens the headset over his black beanie and enables “Do Not Disturb” on his iPhone, before fastening the phone to his head to record.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026
“Incorrect shelf fastening can cause damage to both the bookcase and the contents on display, creating a potential safety risk for yourself and your loved ones,” he says.
From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2024
Following the outcry in Paris, Sargent repainted the fastening securely in place, but he never showed the painting again and was forced to decamp to London to restore his career.
From New York Times ● Feb. 29, 2024
Then fastening the prow to the stern of the other boat, they drew him out into the water.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
