tighten

verb

tight·​en ˈtī-tᵊn How to pronounce tighten (audio)
tightened; tightening ˈtīt-niŋ How to pronounce tighten (audio)
ˈtī-tᵊn-iŋ
Synonyms of tightennext

transitive verb

: to make tight or tighter

intransitive verb

: to become tight or tighter
tightener
ˈtīt-nər, 
ˈtī-tᵊn-ər How to pronounce tighten (audio)
noun
see also:
tighten one's belt

Synonyms of tighten

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And given that, and the high state and municipal taxes many households and businesses face, Fazio added, Connecticut should tighten retirement benefits again before extending them next summer. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026 One rung below the Championship, League One clubs voted to tighten the salary cost management protocol (SCMP), which has been in operation for several years. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Indeed, more college graduates are accepting unpaid internships than at any point in the last decade as the entry-level job market tightens around them. — Dana Stephenson, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2026 How Wells Fargo and Truist handle work-from-home Bank of America is not the only local financial institution tightening its office attendance requirements. — Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tighten

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

Phrases Containing tighten

Rhymes for tighten

See All Rhymes for tighten

Browse Nearby Words

tight-cut
tighten
tight end
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tighten. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of tighten for Spanish Speakers

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