tighten

verb

tight·​en ˈtī-tᵊn 

tightened; tightening ˈtīt-niŋ 

ˈtī-tᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to make tight or tighter

intransitive verb

: to become tight or tighter

tightener

ˈtīt-nər, 

ˈtī-tᵊn-ər 

noun

see also:

tighten one's belt

Synonyms of tighten

• tense
• stretch

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

According to the brand, the serum can start to visibly tighten sagging skin in as little as two weeks. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

Swiss voters rejected a right-wing proposal to tighten the country’s neutrality rules, with 70% voting against it and every region opposing the measure. — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

In the wake of the April shootings, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to make school safety a top priority and to tighten gun-ownership regulations. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Since the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, cars have generally gotten more fuel-efficient, while regulations on fuel economy have tightened. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1727, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing tighten

• tighten one's belt
• tighten/put the thumbscrews on
• tighten the noose
• tighten the purse strings
• tighten the screws
• tighten up

Rhymes for tighten

• brighten
• chitin
• frighten
• heighten
• lighten
• phaeton
• titan
• triton
• whiten
• enlighten
• exciton
• periphyton

Kids Definition

tighten

verb

tight·​en ˈtīt-ᵊn 

tightened; tightening ˈtīt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become tight or tighter

tightener

-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun