tighten

1 of 2

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

tightener

2 of 2

noun

tight·​en·​er -t(ᵊ)nə(r) 

plural -s

: one that tightens

often : an idle pulley or a sprocket wheel pressed against a belt, band, rope, or chain to tighten it

called also tightening pulley

Synonyms of tighten

Verb

• tense
• stretch

Examples of tighten in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Slow-moving lenders were left holding the bag — the episode started the clock on Credit Suisse’s downfall — and prompted some banks to tighten their risk limits around such trades. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 30 July 2026

The 1939 film was tightened and retooled by a team from Google DeepMind and other tech, film and live event specialists. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 July 2026

As final numbers came in, that figure crept up to $90 million—tightening the decline to about 27%. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026

Fatal overdoses last year decreased to 1,826, as Canada moved to reverse decriminalization and tighten regulation of narcotics, but that still represents a nearly ninefold increase over 15 years. — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

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