tighten
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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tightens,
present (3rd person singular)
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tightened,
past participle, past
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tightening
present participle
verb
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to make or become tight or tighter
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to economize
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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tightenernoun
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overtightenverb
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retightenverb
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untightenverb (used with object)
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self-tighteningadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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tightensimple
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tightenssimple
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have tightenedperfect
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has tightenedperfect
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am tighteningprogressive
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are tighteningprogressive
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is tighteningprogressive
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have been tighteningperfect progressive
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has been tighteningperfect progressive
Past
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tightenedsimple
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had tightenedperfect
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was tighteningprogressive
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were tighteningprogressive
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had been tighteningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of tighten
Explanation
To tighten something is to draw it snug or squeeze it. Your cousin's crazy driving may cause you to tighten your seatbelt and close your eyes. You can tighten things literally, the way you tighten the lid of a jar or tighten your hold on your best friend's hand as you enter a haunted house together. There's also a figurative way to tighten, like when a library tightens its rules about talking or a restrictive government tightens control over what newspapers are allowed to print. Before tighten appeared in the 18th century, the verb was tight.
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:
Ministers say they will tighten up rules, promote competition and give customers clearer compensation routes if things go wrong.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Concerns about camera hacking are prompting fresh efforts to tighten security.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
The main gripe for the frugal is the proposed budget represents an increase of around 60 percent on the last one at a time when member states have to tighten their belts.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
A stronger-than-expected El Nino could further tighten global palm oil supply, with production in Malaysia and Indonesia potentially falling 3%-8% under moderate to prolonged dry conditions, he reckons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
My face puffed up, making my skin stretch and tighten.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
First, Smith melts fat and tightens deeper tissue using Vaser, an ultrasonic wand inserted into the arm via a small incision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Once contraction begins, this network tightens inward and then returns to its original configuration.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
It also codifies and tightens requirements for teacher training, K-3 reading curricula, screening and parental notification, while granting the Massachusetts Department of Education robust powers to enforce transparency and accountability.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Now, it means showing up to support them as immigration enforcement tightens its grip.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
My heart tightens like a claw grips it.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
That in turn, de Croo warned, had tightened space for developing countries to access the capital they needed to combat the shocks, with rising interest rates feeding into increasing debt payments.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
The number of defectors resettling in South Korea fell from more than 1,000 in 2019 to 223 last year due to tightened border controls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The tightened surveillance has forced escapees to choose more dangerous routes, including dashing across the DMZ or swimming across the maritime border.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Security was tightened around the Election Commission headquarters on Tuesday, with police barricading roads along the route between parliament and the commission's office.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
“I know this one,” Danny said, feeling a bit dazed as his throat tightened with emotion.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Expectations of monetary tightening have since receded, and money markets currently price in a 29% probability of a 25-basis-point rate rise this month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
He expects the Fed will want to be "careful and cautious in terms of its policy tightening."
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
"At the same time, the current technology tailwind could stop abruptly if expectations about AI-related profits and productivity gains are reassessed, weakening investment and tightening financial conditions."
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Markets expect more rate increases than Goldman strategists, who said limited pressure from nonfood and energy prices will keep a lid on central-bank tightening.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026
“What do you mean?” asked Gregor, his throat tightening.
From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins
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.
