tighten

verb

tight·​en ˈtī-tᵊn How to pronounce tighten (audio)
tightened; tightening ˈtīt-niŋ How to pronounce tighten (audio)
ˈtī-tᵊn-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to become tight or tighter
tightener
ˈtīt-nər How to pronounce tighten (audio)
ˈtī-tᵊn-ər
noun
Phrases
tighten one's belt
: to practice strict economy

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 Streaming is in a weird place across the industry, as everyone seems to be tightening their belts and focusing on quality, not quantity. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024 The former president, despite facing four criminal cases, has only tightened his grip on the GOP in his third White House run. Hadriana Lowenkron, Fortune, 17 Mar. 2024 Then, Zani and another officer tightened a noose around his neck, and attempted to hang him, the suit claimed. Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2024 The government also tightened security in the capital in recent months, limiting the group’s ability to carry out massive attacks like the one in late 2022 that killed more than 100 people, many of them students. Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 And in Marin County, Dr. Nelson Branco told me that so many parents are requesting delays that his practice recently decided to tighten vaccine requirements. Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 There are signs the government intends to further tighten its grip on influencers who do not play by its rules. Rick Noack, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 President Luis Abinader, who had been tightening the border before the crisis began, said this week that his country will not accept any Haitian refugees. Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 The business is facing fresh challenges, though, with a rise in medical care expenses colliding with federal efforts to tighten some payments. John Tozzi Bloomberg News (tns), arkansasonline.com, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tighten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1727, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of tighten was circa 1727

Dictionary Entries Near tighten

Cite this Entry

“Tighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tighten. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tighten

verb
tight·​en ˈtīt-ᵊn How to pronounce tighten (audio)
tightened; tightening ˈtīt-niŋ How to pronounce tighten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become tight or tighter
tightener
-nər How to pronounce tighten (audio)
-ᵊn-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tighten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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