tighten up
phrasal verb
tightened up; tightening up; tightens up
: to become more strict or effective or to make (something) more strict or effective
Security around the building has tightened up recently.
They tightened up security around the building.
Examples of tighten up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The more recent Vanderbilt transfer, Savion Riley, has every chance to win a starting safety job but must tighten up his coverage.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
The letter, in essence, is seeking to tighten up and expedite the first version of an accountability system.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Another Reddit poster suggests there may be a cat and mouse game behind the scenes as Google tightens up.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
More commonly known as a charley horse, a nighttime leg cramp is when the muscles in a leg quickly tighten up.
—Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2024
And Shanahan’s propensity to tighten up in big moments — to become even more conservative when the game is one the line — can’t be ignored.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2024
The Tracey Anderson method workouts are based on repetitive movements and body resistance, with several goals: tightening up your abs, firming your arms, or toning up your thighs.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
National Security, Not Election-Year Politics A simple question: If Congress can ameliorate the border crisis by tightening up the removal process, toughening asylum standards, and increasing detention resources, why not just do that?
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024
The defense that's been devastated by injuries at linebacker and safety has forced six turnovers over the same span, tightening up when there was no other choice.
—Will Graves, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
The letter, in essence, is seeking to tighten up and expedite the first version of an accountability system.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Another Reddit poster suggests there may be a cat and mouse game behind the scenes as Google tightens up.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
More commonly known as a charley horse, a nighttime leg cramp is when the muscles in a leg quickly tighten up.
—Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2024
And Shanahan’s propensity to tighten up in big moments — to become even more conservative when the game is one the line — can’t be ignored.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2024
The Tracey Anderson method workouts are based on repetitive movements and body resistance, with several goals: tightening up your abs, firming your arms, or toning up your thighs.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
National Security, Not Election-Year Politics A simple question: If Congress can ameliorate the border crisis by tightening up the removal process, toughening asylum standards, and increasing detention resources, why not just do that?
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024
The defense that's been devastated by injuries at linebacker and safety has forced six turnovers over the same span, tightening up when there was no other choice.
—Will Graves, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tighten up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tighten up
Cite this Entry
“Tighten up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tighten%20up. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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