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 chief judge’s office had tightened its electronic monitoring violation policy over the winter, instituting a new requirement that any absence longer than three hours would need to be reviewed by a judge within a day. —Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026

As paranoia festers and absurd regulations tighten their grip, suspicion replaces love, and truth itself begins to warp. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026

But two decades on, the sequel (in theaters May 1) arrives in an extremely different landscape, which has forced media companies to tighten their belts as page views plummet and AI surges. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

Countries can tighten their wastewater controls and expand independent environmental monitoring and reporting. —Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 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