tighten

verb

tight·​en ˈtī-tᵊn 

tightened; tightening ˈtīt-niŋ 

ˈtī-tᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to make tight or tighter

intransitive verb

: to become tight or tighter

tightener

ˈtīt-nər 

ˈtī-tᵊn-ər

noun

Phrases

tighten one's belt

: to practice strict economy

Synonyms

• strain
• stretch
• tauten
• tense

Examples of tighten in a Sentence

She tightened her hold on the handle.

tighten the straps on the backpack so that the load doesn't shift while hiking

Recent Examples on the Web

While traditional immigration destinations like the U.S., Canada and the U.K. have been scaling back investment immigration options or tightening their requirements, Singapore has taken a different approach. —Hannah Ma, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

And with Beijing tightening its grip on the city in recent years, activists said, the political space needed to facilitate change is shrinking. —Chris Lau, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024

Energizing ingredients like caffeine firm and tighten fine lines, while hydrating additives such as hyaluronic acid, aloe water, apple and watermelon moisturize. —Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 13 Sep. 2024

But domestic tourists are now tightening their travel purse strings, and international travelers aren’t filling the gap. —Serenitie Wang, Cnbc, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1727, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing tighten

• tighten one's belt
• tighten/put the thumbscrews on
• tighten the noose
• tighten the purse strings
• tighten the screws
• tighten up

Kids Definition

tighten

verb

tight·​en ˈtīt-ᵊn 

tightened; tightening ˈtīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become tight or tighter

tightener

-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun