fasten

verb fas·ten \ ˈfa-sᵊn \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

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Examples: fasten in a Sentence

Definition of fasten

fastened; fastening play \ˈfas-niŋ, ˈfa-sᵊn-iŋ\

transitive verb

1 a : to attach especially by pinning, tying, or nailing

b : to make fast and secure

c : to fix firmly or securely

d : to secure against opening

2 : to fix or set steadily

fastened her attention on the main problem

3 : to take a firm grip with

the dog fastened its teeth in the shoe

4 a : to attach (oneself) persistently and usually objectionably

b : to place forcefully : impose

fastened the blame on the wrong person

intransitive verb

1 : to become fast or fixed

2 a : to take a firm grip or hold

b : to focus attention

—

fastener

play \ˈfas-nər, ˈfa-sᵊn-ər\ noun

See fasten defined for English-language learners

See fasten defined for kids

Examples of fasten in a Sentence

fastening clothes on a clothesline
He fastened the dog's leash to a post and went into the store.
two boards fastened together by nails
a decorative clasp that could be used to fasten a cape or cloak
a shoe that fastens with a buckle
This dress fastens in the back.
She twisted her hair into a bun and fastened it with bobby pins.
Make sure the lid is tightly fastened.
The lock was so damaged it wouldn't fasten.
He fastened his hands on my arm and wouldn't let go.

Recent Examples of fasten from the Web

Remember the figure-8 that fastens the tendon to the medial epicondyle, that small bump on your humerus bone?

— gabriel baumgaertner, SI.com, "With Violent Elbow Injuries Behind Him, Braves Reliever Dan Winkler Is Pitching Like an All-Star," 4 July 2018
Smith then climbed the flagpole, fastened on an American flag, and reportedly waved his hat in defiance as some gunshots whizzed past him.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Richard Smith joins 172-year family history of Old Town flag-waving," 23 June 2018
The artist had a habit of taking the company's more traditional pieces of pottery and fastening them together to form one of a kind pieces.

— maggie menderski, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville pottery company has a new owner and a trove of forgotten art," 11 June 2018
Once filled, the pant legs should resemble logs, with one end fastened and the other end open.

— katja vujić, BostonGlobe.com, "Here’s how to plant a beach umbrella so it doesn’t blow away," 2 May 2018
Her ponytail, fastened tightly at the motel, had come loose.

— New York Times, "‘It’s Like Each Day Is a Year’: A Migrant Mother’s Wait for a Reunion," 13 July 2018
Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves; fasten shelves, mirrors and large picture frames to walls; brace high and top-heavy objects; anchor overhead lighting fixtures.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Safety tips to follow before, during and after an earthquake," 8 July 2018
Dread creeps in; the ear instinctively fastens on anything, whether fire-hiss or bird call or susurrus of leaves, that will save it from this unknown emptiness.

— The Economist, "People crave silence, yet are unnerved by it," 17 May 2018
The wardrobe culmination came when Macbeth’s armor is fastened with duct tape, wound around his waist and then bitten off.

— toby zinman, Philly.com, "London theater: 'Macbeth' at National Theatre: Murky, unintelligible, nonsensical," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fasten.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fasten

Middle English fastnen, from Old English fæstnian to make fast; akin to Old High German festinōn to make fast, Old English fæst fast

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

fasten Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of fasten

fasten, fix, attach, affix mean to make something stay firmly in place. fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing.

- fasten the reins to a post

fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding.

- fixed the stake in the ground

attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together.

- attach the W-2 form here

affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing.

- affix your address label here

FASTEN Defined for English Language Learners

fasten

verb

Definition of fasten for English Language Learners

: to attach (something) or join (two things or two parts of something) especially by using a pin, nail, etc.
of parts of something : to become attached or joined
: to put something in a position or location in such a way that it will not move