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

The reforms include winding down mRNA vaccine development, withdrawing funding for an international vaccine alliance and tightening access to COVID shots. — CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Now a party that will rely on women’s votes in the midterms is trying to figure out its boundaries in how male candidates talk about, and to, women, after conservative backlash to tightening norms for workplace behavior. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 July 2026

As facelifts become increasingly natural-looking, the focus has shifted from simply tightening skin to restoring the underlying structure of the face, jawline, and neck. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

For Braves fans like Kendall Colleps, the tightening race is making things more interesting than many thought early in the season. — AJC.com, 15 July 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