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 Some of the big changes make rules clearer to streamline existing military registration and mobilization processes, make fewer people exempt from military service, and tighten enforcement to prevent draft dodging, experts tell TIME. Mallory Moench, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024 Director Ken-Matt Martin could tighten the pace here and there. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024 Gasoline stockpiles on the populous East Coast are tightening and manufacturing activity in the US and China is also signaling a boost in fuel use. Lucia Kassai, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2024 Will the Heat continue to use a 10-man rotation or will Spoelstra need to tighten the rotation this postseason? Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024 Since 2020, states have tightened who can vote absentee and who can turn in absentee ballots. Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024 So far, the gap’s tightened but the Lakers are still in ninth. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024 The Biden administration has tightened export controls on shipments of advanced AI chips and chipmaking tools from U.S. firms — including chipmaking leader Nvidia — to China since 2022, in an effort to slow the country’s progress in AI and military development. Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024 Though the slate may be smaller than those working with Netflix are accustomed, the industry, which has been hearing about Netflix belt tightening for the better part of the past year, won’t pin smaller paydays on Lin. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Apr. 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 16 Apr. 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

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