fasten
Americanverb (used with object)
-
fastens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
fastened,
past participle, past
-
fastening
present participle
-
to attach firmly or securely in place; fix securely to something else.
-
to make secure, as an article of dress with buttons, clasps, etc., or a door with a lock, bolt, etc.
-
to enclose securely, as a person or an animal (usually followed byin ).
to fasten a monkey in a cage.
-
to attach, associate, or connect.
to fasten a nickname on someone.
-
to direct (the eyes, thoughts, etc.) intently.
to fasten one's eyes on a speaker.
verb (used without object)
-
fastens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
fastened,
past participle, past
-
fastening
present participle
-
to become fast, fixed, or firm.
-
to close firmly or securely; lock.
This clasp won't fasten.
-
to take a firm hold; seize (usually followed by on orupon ).
to fasten on an idea.
-
to focus attention; concentrate (usually followed by on orupon ).
His gaze fastened on the jewels.
verb
-
to make or become fast or secure
-
to make or become attached or joined
-
to close or become closed by fixing firmly in place, locking, etc
-
(tr; foll by in or up) to enclose or imprison
-
to cause (blame, a nickname, etc) to be attached (to); place (on) or impute (to)
-
to direct or be directed in a concentrated way; fix
he fastened his gaze on the girl
-
take firm hold (of)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
fastensimple
-
fastenssimple
-
have fastenedperfect
-
has fastenedperfect
-
am fasteningprogressive
-
are fasteningprogressive
-
is fasteningprogressive
-
have been fasteningperfect progressive
-
has been fasteningperfect progressive
Past
-
fastenedsimple
-
had fastenedperfect
-
was fasteningprogressive
-
were fasteningprogressive
-
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"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills," Vocabulary from Module Four
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
And Then, Boom!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
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
Valenzuela sensed this, and one day I was carefully navigating around his locker when I felt a rope fasten around my foot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2024
They fasten scarves on their visitors’ heads with a neat, pearl-topped pin.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2024
I pull out my antennae hats I shaped last night out a tinfoil, fasten em on our heads.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
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
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
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
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
The price of plastic has risen roughly 50 percent since before the Iran war, Chen told AFP as workers behind him fastened suction tubes to metal tanks.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
I sat on this chair, he fastened a strap around my left hand, and then did the same with my right hand.
From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2025
After the walk-around inspection, I fastened my chin strap and hoisted myself into the bare-carbon cockpit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
But I made it and fastened my seat belt.
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2025
Even once they’re inside and their seat belts are fastened and the engine is cranked.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
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
Kondo brought garments to life, like kites in the sky with voluminous silhouettes created by fastening and unfastening buttons.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 20, 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
“Yes,” I said, a dummy to her moods, going into my bedroom and flinging off my dressing gown, fastening my inevitable flannel skirt and stretching my home-made jumper over my head.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
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.
