tighten

American  

[tahyt-n] / ˈtaɪt n /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become tight or tighter.

   Synonyms:

   fasten, anchor, secure

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tighten British  

/ ˈtaɪtən /

verb

1. to make or become tight or tighter

2. to economize

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Other Word Forms

• overtighten verb
• retighten verb
• self-tightening adjective
• tightener noun
• untighten verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of tighten

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

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

The Monetary Authority of Singapore is likely to tighten its policy stance in its statement due Tuesday as it eyes the effect of the Middle East conflict on inflation, said ANZ Research.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Silverware, the first since an FA Cup in his first year, will serve to tighten that grip.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

“When capital becomes scarce, it normalizes and can reverse the supply-demand imbalance that benefited borrowers in recent years. Typically, spreads widen, structures tighten, and documentation improves.”

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Apple has been paying a premium to buy up memory chips in what Goldberg believes is a “is part of a deliberate strategy for the company to tighten conditions for its competitors.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

She reached up to tighten her jade headband.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

• narrow
• stiffen
• toughen