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

Those amounts can rise over successive renewals as companies accept larger retentions to control premiums or carriers tighten coverage terms. — Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Early booking remains important as congestion and blank sailings can tighten capacity. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

The suit says Columbia retaliated instead of investigating, branding events as security risks, tightening discipline to deter criticism of Israel, and surveilling students with private investigators monitoring Khalil and his campus group. — Sudhin Thanawala, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

The Houthis have also tightened their hold on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital passage for the southern Red Sea. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 14 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