tether

1 of 2

noun

teth·​er ˈte-t͟hər 

1

a

: a line (as of rope or chain) by which an animal is fastened so as to restrict its range of movement

b

: a line to which someone or something is attached (as for security)

A crewman can clip the tether of his harness to the [safety line] and leave it clipped as he makes his way forward and aft.

—Michael A. Smith

2

: the limit of one's strength or resources

I'm at the end of my tether.

tether

2 of 2

verb

tethered; tethering ˈte-t͟h(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to fasten or restrain by or as if by a tether

felt tethered to her desk until the work was done

Examples of tether in a Sentence

Verb

They tethered the horses in the shade.

The dog was tethered to the fence.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Waldrep received a $2 million cash/surety bond and must wear a steel cuff tether and be on house arrest if released. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026

The opportunity now presents itself to tether pardoning to democracy by encouraging Congress to reclaim its authority over amnesty, and by urging future presidential administrations to integrate forms of democratic decision-making into the pardon bureaucracy. —Bernadette Meyler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Verb

The real world is likely full of people around you who tether you to your community. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026

The policy includes other restrictions as well, such as bans on tethering during weather advisories or at night. —David Clarey, jsonline.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tethir, teder, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse tjōthr tether; akin to Old High German zeotar pole of a wagon

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tether

• the end of one's tether

Rhymes for tether

• aether
• gether
• heather
• leather
• nether
• weather
• wether
• whether
• altogether
• together

Kids Definition

tether

1 of 2 noun

teth·​er ˈtet͟h-ər 

: a line by which something (as an animal or a balloon) is fastened so as to limit its range

tether

2 of 2 verb

tethered; tethering ˈtet͟h-(ə-)riŋ 

: to fasten or hold with or as if with a tether

felt tethered to my desk