tighten

[ tahyt-n ]
See synonyms for: tightentightenedtightening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object)
  1. to make or become tight or tighter.

Origin of tighten

1
First recorded in 1720–30; tight + -en1

Other words for tighten

Other words from tighten

  • 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)

Words Nearby tighten

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How to use tighten in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tighten

tighten

/ (ˈtaɪtən) /


verb
  1. to make or become tight or tighter

  2. tighten one's belt to economize

Derived forms of tighten

  • tightener, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012