tighten
gb/tˈaɪtən/ us/tˈaɪtən/
A2
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Make something tighter or more secure
To make something hold or fit more firmly.
Usage pattern:
to tighten [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tighten' with 'fasten'; 'fasten' can mean secure without necessarily increasing tightness.
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.)
Collocations
tighten a screw
|tighten a belt
|tighten the lid
|tighten a knot
|tighten the straps
Themes
daily life
|mechanics
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He used a wrench to tighten the bolt.
- Tighten the straps on your backpack so it doesn't slip.
- 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.
- Please tighten your shoelaces.
- He tightened his belt.
- Tighten the rope before you climb.
- I will tighten the screw.
Verb
B1
state
2
Become tighter or firmer
To get more tight or firm.
Usage pattern:
[something] tightens
Synonyms
contract (Often used for muscles or materials shrinking or becoming tighter.)
Antonyms
loosen (Means to become less tight or firm.)
Collocations
muscles tighten
|rules tighten
|skin tightens
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His jaw tightened when he heard the news.
- The rope tightened as he pulled it.
- 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.
- Her face tightened when she was angry.
- The knot tightened when I pulled it.
- The rules tightened after the accident.
- His hands tightened on the handle.
Verb
B2
action
3
Make rules or limits stricter
To make rules or control stronger and harder to avoid.
Usage pattern:
to tighten [rules/control/restrictions]
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.)
Collocations
tighten security
|tighten controls
|tighten regulations
Themes
politics
|law
|business
Examples
- The government plans to tighten security at airports.
- They decided to tighten regulations on pollution.
- 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.
- They will tighten security for the event.
- The school will tighten its dress code.
- The city will tighten parking rules.
- The police will tighten checks at night.
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.