fasten

verb

fas·ten | \ ˈfa-sᵊn

fastened; fastening\ ˈfas-niŋ

, ˈfa-sᵊn-iŋ \

Definition of fasten

transitive verb

1a : 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

4a : 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

2a : to take a firm grip or hold

b : to focus attention

Other Words from fasten Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about fasten

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Synonyms & Antonyms for fasten

Synonyms

affix, attach, bend, fix

Antonyms

detach, undo, unfasten, unhook

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Clearly someone fastened a string onto the bottle cap and pulled it the second Carey started singing. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Mariah Carey, Superhero, Popped a Bottle of Wine Using Just Her Voice," 8 July 2019 Reading aloud from a questionnaire fastened to a clipboard, a MetroHealth trauma counselor named Violet asks Alondra to provide a brief description of a traumatic injury or victimization that stands out in her memory. — Leila Atassi, cleveland.com, "Alondra Rivera begins therapy to unpack a lifetime of trauma: A Greater Cleveland," 3 July 2019 The kid reviewers used their words, of course, as well as their giggles, which were captured by laugh trackers fastened to their shirts. — Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, "Tennessee tourism department enlists kids to rate the state’s attractions," 26 June 2019 Looking back at the old meal plans, fastened to a bulging clipboard, is one long nostalgic stroll. — Stephanie Ganz, Bon Appétit, "How I Conquer Existential Dread By Meal Planning for My Family," 19 June 2019 Jean fastened a wood panel onto the gate to soften the metal. — Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, "Blundering Gardener: Highland Park gardener invites us into her own Shangri-la," 15 June 2019 Swanson Frank, in her self portrait, fastens a 1910 Art Deco Style brooch by Paul Iribe to the shoulder of a lime green evening dress. — Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, "The Historic Al Thani Jewels, As Worn By Some of New York City's Leading Women," 13 June 2019 But her public-assistance crimes — which Reagan read about in the Tribune, then fastened into a fixture of stump speeches during the 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns — became his go-to, ready-baked cautionary tale. — Christopher Borrelli, chicagotribune.com, "Reagan used her, the country hated her. Decades later, the Welfare Queen of Chicago refuses to go away," 7 June 2019 Made for a ceiling installation, its mounting brackets were designed to fasten to joists 48 inches apart. — Popular Mechanics, "To Install a Pull-Up Bar, We Built a Surfboard," 23 Mar. 2019

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.