tighten
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
-
to make or become tight or tighter
-
to economize
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
tightenernoun
-
overtightenverb
-
retightenverb
-
untightenverb (used with object)
-
self-tighteningadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
tightensimple
-
tightenssimple
-
have tightenedperfect
-
has tightenedperfect
-
am tighteningprogressive
-
are tighteningprogressive
-
is tighteningprogressive
-
have been tighteningperfect progressive
-
has been tighteningperfect progressive
Past
-
tightenedsimple
-
had tightenedperfect
-
was tighteningprogressive
-
were tighteningprogressive
-
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:
However, experts have warned that sanctions alone are unlikely to halt the trade unless major international gold trading hubs and regional transit routes also tighten enforcement against illicit Sudanese gold.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Schwam and Gunther wisely tighten their focus on Robin and Shelly, using their decades-long relationship as an allegory for the importance of compassion.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
"I'm concerned that regulations will tighten even further, such as by limiting the annual investment quota per person," Wu added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
However, management said it expects higher gross margins, as it takes steps to tighten up purchases and more strictly manage inventories.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
I climb out on the plank and tighten up the ropes some and then there’s nothing to do but wait.
From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick
"Every time the smoke reaches my store, my chest tightens, and I cough a lot," the 62-year-old said.
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
As the binary tightens, the planet's precession slows while the stars' precession speeds up.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2026
It means the vicious circle tightens and darkens.
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026
The potential shift comes as China tightens oversight over “red-chip” companies, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026
My chest tightens, and my eyes burn with tears.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
The battle for the drivers' championship has tightened up as Formula 1 prepares for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The Nikkei 225 gained 38% as the Bank of Japan tightened rates, leading to the highest interest rates in over thirty years.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
Beijing also recently tightened regulations on drones, citing security concerns – drones now have to be registered before they can be brought in and out of the capital city.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
By contrast, the European Central Bank tightened borrowing costs earlier this month, raising interest rates for the first time in nearly three years after eurozone inflation jumped due to the war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
The muscles in the Norseman’s arm tightened, as if he’d been possessed by a demon rage.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
Waller said the Fed needed to avoid overreacting and tightening too soon merely because it waited so long last time.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
But as the race for artificial-intelligence supremacy heats up, Beijing is considering tightening its grip on homegrown technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as Fed Chair had prompted markets to price in more interest rate rises due to his commitment to price stability and projections signaling a chance of tightening.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Yet many African nations were willing to play ball with the US tightening visas worldwide, the two ex-State Department officials said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
He fiddled with his gloves, tightening them on his fingers as he rounded the corner.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
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.
