tighten
gb/tˈaɪtən/ us/tˈaɪtən/
A2
English
~ 1900
meghúz, megfeszül, szorítani kezd, megszigorít
VERB
A2
1
meghúz
A2
Usage pattern:
to tighten [something]
He used a wrench to tighten the bolt.
Csavarkulccsal húzta meg a csavart.
Tighten the straps on your backpack so it doesn't slip.
Húzd meg a hátizsákod pántjait, hogy ne csússzon le.
Before starting the machine, tighten the safety guard.
She tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
The mechanic tightened the wheel nuts before we left.
Learner examples
Tighten the lid on the jar.
Csavard rá szorosabban a tetőt az üvegre.
Please tighten your shoelaces.
Kérlek, húzd meg a cipőfűzőidet.
He tightened his belt.
Tighten the rope before you climb.
I will tighten the screw.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tighten' with 'fasten'; 'fasten' can mean secure without necessarily increasing tightness.
Meaning
Make something tighter or more secure
Collocations
tighten a screw
|tighten a belt
|tighten the lid
|tighten a knot
|tighten the straps
Synonyms
fasten (Implies securing something, not always by making it tighter but by closing or locking it in place.)
Antonyms
loosen (Means to make something less tight or firm, the opposite of tightening.)
Themes
daily life
|mechanics
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something hold or fit more firmly.
To make something more tight, firm, or secure by applying pressure, force, or adjustment.
VERB
B1
2
megfeszül
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] tightens
His jaw tightened when he heard the news.
Megfeszült az állkapcsa, amikor meghallotta a hírt.
The rope tightened as he pulled it.
A kötél megfeszült, ahogy húzta.
Her muscles tightened in fear.
Security around the airport has tightened recently.
The skin on the fabric tightens as it dries.
Learner examples
My shoes tighten when my feet swell.
Ha bedagad a lábam, szorítani kezd a cipőm.
Her face tightened when she was angry.
Megfeszült az arca, amikor dühös volt.
The knot tightened when I pulled it.
The rules tightened after the accident.
His hands tightened on the handle.
Meaning
Become tighter or firmer
Collocations
muscles tighten
|rules tighten
|skin tightens
Synonyms
contract (Often used for muscles or materials shrinking or becoming tighter.)
Antonyms
loosen (Means to become less tight or firm.)
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get more tight or firm.
To become more tight, firm, or secure without external force being applied directly at that moment.
VERB
B2
3
megszigorít
B2
Usage pattern:
to tighten [rules/control/restrictions]
The government plans to tighten security at airports.
A kormány azt tervezi, hogy szigorítja a repülőtéri biztonsági intézkedéseket.
They decided to tighten regulations on pollution.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy szigorítják a környezetszennyezésre vonatkozó szabályozást.
The school has tightened its attendance policy.
Customs tightened border checks after the incident.
The company is tightening control over expenses.
Learner examples
The bank will tighten its rules for loans.
A bank szigorítani fogja a hitelezési szabályait.
They will tighten security for the event.
Szigorítani fogják a biztonsági intézkedéseket az eseményen.
The school will tighten its dress code.
The city will tighten parking rules.
The police will tighten checks at night.
Meaning
Make rules or limits stricter
Collocations
tighten security
|tighten controls
|tighten regulations
Synonyms
strengthen (Implies making stronger; in this context refers to rules or measures becoming stricter.)
Antonyms
relax (Means to make rules or restrictions less strict.)
Themes
politics
|law
|business
Definition
To make rules or control stronger and harder to avoid.
To increase the level of control, restriction, or strictness of rules, laws, or procedures.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tighten
IPA
GB/tˈaɪtən/
US/tˈaɪtən/
Syllables & stress
tight - en (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tight)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: tighten
- 3rd Person Singular: tightens
- Present Participle: tightening
- Past: tightened
Word family
Expressions
tighten one's grip
1/tˈaɪtən wˈʌnz ɡɹˈɪp/
fixed phrase
Hold something more firmly
To hold onto something more strongly with your hands.
Examples
- She tightened her grip on the rope as she climbed.
- He tightened his grip on the steering wheel during the storm.
tighten up
1/tˈaɪtən ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Make something tighter or stricter
To make something more tight or more controlled/strict.
Examples
- You need to tighten up those bolts before driving.
- The coach told the team to tighten up their defense.
tighten your belt
1/tˈaɪtən jˈʊɹ bˈɛlt/
idiom
Spend less money than before
To spend less money because you have less of it than before.
Examples
- With rising prices, many families have had to tighten their belts.
- After losing his job, he had to tighten his belt and cut expenses.