tighten
verb (used with or without object)
was tightening
-
past progressiveof tighten.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
France said it was tightening security at its border with Spain, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her country might consider suspending the Schengen rules.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
The troubled private-credit industry was under further pressure after a report that JPMorgan Chase was tightening its lending criteria while a $33 billion fund was reported to have seen heavy withdrawals.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 11, 2026
Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it was tightening national standards for fine particulate matter — a health threat that has been linked to lung and heart disease.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2024
Reuters reported that China's central bank was tightening its scrutiny of bulk dollar purchases by domestic firms, at a time when the yuan faces mounting depreciation pressure.
From Reuters ● Sep. 12, 2023
The duct was tightening, squeezing around his shoulders.
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
