rivet

1 of 3

noun (1)

riv·​et ˈri-vət 

: a headed pin or bolt of metal used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head

rivet

2 of 3

verb

riveted; riveting; rivets

transitive verb

1

: to fasten with or as if with rivets

2

: to upset the end or point of (something, such as a metallic pin, rod, or bolt) by beating or pressing so as to form a head

3

: to fasten or fix firmly

stood riveted by fright

4

: to attract and hold (something, such as a person's attention) completely

riveter noun

riveter

3 of 3

noun (2)

riv·​et·​er

variants or less commonly rivetter

-ə̇tə(r), 

-ə̇tə-

plural -s

1

: a worker who inserts and upsets rivets by hand or by machine

2

: a riveting machine

Synonyms of rivet

Verb

• focus
• concentrate

Examples of rivet in a Sentence

Verb

The iron plates are riveted rather than welded.

everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The copper rivets, still used across jean designs today, were initially added to prevent rips frequently experienced by miners and other laborers. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2026

In the past, Levi’s has made giant 501 jeans to celebrate 501 Day, the day Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received an official patent for using metal rivets to reinforce men’s work pants. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026

Verb

But Oppenheim wants to do more than just rivet us with a portrait of Hansen. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026

Los Angeles filmmaker and artist Stanya Kahn stared, riveted, at her screen in the first hours after news of the killing emerged, and immediately began screen-grabbing results, knowing something important was happening. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, clinch on a nail, rivet, from Old French, from river to attach, rivet, probably from rive border, edge, bank, from Latin ripa

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rivet

• civet
• pivot
• privet

Kids Definition

rivet

1 of 2 noun

riv·​et ˈriv-ət 

: a metal bolt with a head at one end used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head

rivet

2 of 2 verb

1

: to fasten with or as if with rivets

2

: to attract and hold (as one's attention) completely

riveter noun