Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense tightens, present participle tightening, past tense, past participle tightened
1. verb
If you tighten your grip on something, or if your grip tightens, you hold the thing more firmly or securely.
Luke answered by tightening his grip on her shoulder. [VERB noun]
Her arms tightened about his neck in gratitude. [VERB preposition]
Stefano's grip tightened and his tone became colder. [VERB]
Synonyms: close, narrow, strengthen, squeeze More Synonyms of tighten
2. verb
If you tighten a rope or chain, or if it tightens, it is stretched or pulled hard until it is straight.
The anchorman flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope. [VERB noun]
The cables tightened and he was lifted gradually from the deck. [VERB]
Synonyms: stretch, strain, tense, tauten More Synonyms of tighten
3. verb
If a government or organization tightens its grip on a group of people or an activity, or if its grip tightens, it begins to have more control over it.
He plans to tighten his grip on the machinery of central government. [VERB noun]
As the regime's grip on the mainland tightened, hundreds of thousands of people fled. [VERB]
4. verb
When you tighten a screw, nut, or other device, you turn it or move it so that it is more firmly in place or holds something more firmly.
I used my thumbnail to tighten the screw on my lamp. [VERB noun]
All the bolts were fully tightened. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: fasten, secure, screw, fix More Synonyms of tighten
Tighten up means the same as tighten.
It's important to tighten up the wheels properly, otherwise they vibrate loose andfall off. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
5. verb
If a part of your body tightens, the muscles in it become tense and stiff, for example because you are angry or afraid.
Sofia's throat had tightened and she couldn't speak. [VERB]
She saw his jaw tighten and his face lose its colour. [VERB]
Synonyms: contract, narrow, constrict, become tight More Synonyms of tighten
tighteninguncountable noun
...a headache caused by tension which results in tightening of the muscles in theneck. [+ of]
...a slight tightening of the throat.
6. verb
If someone in authority tightens a rule, a policy, or a system, they make it stricter or more efficient.
The Government plans to tighten the economic sanctions currently in place. [VERB noun]
They have tightened security along the border. [VERB noun]
Take-off and landing procedures have been tightened after two jets narrowly escapeddisaster. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: increase, heighten, toughen (up), beef up [informal] More Synonyms of tighten
Tighten up means the same as tighten.
Until this week, every attempt to tighten up the law had failed. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
He accused ministers of breaking election pledges to tighten up on tax fraud. [VERBPARTICLE + on]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
tighteninguncountable noun
...the tightening of state control over press and broadcasting. [+ of]
7. to tighten your belt
8. to tighten the screw
Phrasal verbs:
See tighten up
More Synonyms of tighten
tighten in British English
(ˈtaɪtən)
verb
1.
to make or become tight or tighter
2. tighten one's belt
Derived forms
tightener (ˈtightener)
noun
tighten in American English
(ˈtaɪtən)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
to make or become tight or tighter
Derived forms
tightener (ˈtightener)
noun
More idioms containing
tighten
tighten your belt
Examples of 'tighten' in a sentence
tighten
She wants to tighten crazy gun laws and has an ambitious scheme to make university more affordable.
The Sun (2016)
Beijing has tightened controls on moving money abroad, with a limit of $50,000 a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Those who worry about fiscal tightening think public sector support has to be there for years.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The muscles of the face and neck are tightened and fat removed.
The Sun (2006)
His jaw tightened as he considered how greatly he enjoyed her company.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
Officials carried out the investigation to help the government decide how to tighten up immigration procedures.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are tightening up controls on tax here much more now.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
These changes will tighten up the law.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Perhaps the minister should be praised for tightening the regime?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Press your head backwards to tighten your neck and then relax.
French, Barbara Coping with Bulimia (1987)
He tightened his jaw and forced himself to relax.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
The laws must be tightened to allow proper pressure to be brought to bear on miscreants.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The drug regime has been tightened to such an extent that drugs can only be administered by staff in pairs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But don't leave go and be prepared to tighten your grip if there is another wriggle.
Pearce, John (Dr.) Good Habits, Bad Habits (1994)
When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Just the thought of it makes my eyes sting and my throat tighten'.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Would it be about tightening policy or loosening, that sort of thing.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The anchorman flung his whole weight back, tightening the throw rope.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
My throat tightened with fear.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's about tightening my game.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The skipper was instrumental as his second-placed side took Blackpool apart to tighten their grip on an automatic spot.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
tighten
British English: tighten /ˈtaɪtn/ VERB
If you tighten your grip on something, or if your grip on something tightens, you hold it more firmly or securely.
I could feel him tighten his grip on the stick.
American English: tighten
Arabic: يُضَيِّقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: apertar
Chinese: 弄紧
Croatian: zategnuti
Czech: zesílit stisk
Danish: stramme
Dutch: aanhalen verstevigen
European Spanish: apretar tornillos
Finnish: kiristää tiukentaa
French: serrer
German: festziehen
Greek: σφίγγω
Italian: stringere
Japanese: 締める
Korean: 단단히 죄다
Norwegian: stramme
Polish: zacisnąć
European Portuguese: apertar
Romanian: a strânge
Russian: затягивать
Latin American Spanish: apretar
Swedish: dra åt skruva hårdare
Thai: ทำให้แน่นหรือตึงขึ้น
Turkish: sıkılamak
Ukrainian: стискати(ся)
Vietnamese: thắt chặt
All related terms of 'tighten'
tighten up
If a group, team , or organization tightens up , they make an effort to control what they are doing more closely, in order to become more efficient and successful .
tighten security
Security refers to all the measures that are taken to protect a place, or to ensure that only people with permission enter it or leave it.
tighten one's belt
to take measures to reduce expenditure
tighten restrictions
A restriction is an official rule that limits what you can do or that limits the amount or size of something.
tighten the law
The law is a system of rules that a society or government develops in order to deal with crime , business agreements , and social relationships . You can also use the law to refer to the people who work in this system.
tighten your belt
to spend less and live more carefully because you have less money than you had before
to tighten your belt
If you have to tighten your belt , you have to spend less money and manage without things because you have less money than you used to have.
turn the screw
to increase the pressure
tighten (or loosen) the purse strings
to make funds less (or more) readily available
turn the screw(s) on someone to tighten the screw
If you turn or tighten the screw on someone, you increase the pressure which is already on them, for example by using threats , in order to force them to do a particular thing.
turn the screw on someone
to increase the pressure on someone to make them do what you want
Chinese translation of 'tighten'
tighten
(ˈtaɪtn)
vt
[rope, strap]拉紧(緊) (lājǐn)
[screw, bolt]弄紧(緊) (nòngjǐn)
[grip, security, rules etc]加紧(緊) (jiājǐn)
vi
[grip]握紧(緊) (wòjǐn)
[rope, strap etc]拉紧(緊) (lājǐn)
1 (verb)
Definition
to make or become tight or tighter
She tightened her grip on the rope in order to hoist herself up over the rocks.
Synonyms
close
narrow
strengthen
Any experience can teach and strengthen you.
squeeze
harden
Their action can only serve to harden the attitude of landowners.
constrict
Opposites
slacken
,
ease off
,
let out
2 (verb)
Definition
to make or become tight or tighter
He flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope.
Synonyms
stretch
Make sure you don't stretch the pastry as you ease it into the corners.
strain
Several thousand supporters strained to catch a glimpse of the new president.
tense
His stomach muscles tensed.
tauten
stiffen
The blood supply to the skin is reduced when muscles stiffen.
rigidify
Opposites
relax
,
loosen
,
slacken
,
weaken
3 (verb)
Definition
to make or become tight or tighter
I used my thumbnail to tighten the screw.
Synonyms
fasten
He fastened the door behind him.
secure
The frames are secured by horizontal rails to the back wall.
screw
I like the sort of shelving that you screw on the wall.
fix
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
Opposites
unscrew
,
unfasten
,
unbind
4 (verb)
Definition
to make or become tight or tighter
Her throat had tightened and she couldn't speak.
Synonyms
contract
As we move our bodies, our muscles contract and relax.
narrow
This sign means that the road narrows on both sides.
constrict
Severe migraine can be treated with a drug which constricts the blood vessels.
become tight
become narrow
5 (verb)
Definition
to make or become tight or tighter
Martha tightened her lips and shook her head.
Synonyms
purse
She pursed her lips in disapproval.
narrow
compress
screw up
pucker
She puckered her lips at the sour taste of lemon.
6 (verb)
Definition
to make or become tight or tighter
They have tightened security along the border.
Synonyms
increase
The company has increased the price of its cars.
heighten
The move has heightened tension in the state.
toughen (up)
beef up (informal)
crank up (informal)
scale up
make stricter
make more rigorous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of constrict
Definition
to make smaller or narrower by squeezing
Severe migraine can be treated with a drug which constricts the blood vessels.
Synonyms
squeeze,
contract,
narrow,
restrict,
shrink,
tighten,
pinch,
choke,
cramp,
strangle,
compress,
strangulate
in the sense of fix
Definition
to attach or place permanently
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
Synonyms
place,
join,
stick (informal),
attach,
set,
position,
couple,
plant,
link,
establish,
tie,
settle,
secure,
bind,
root,
connect,
locate,
pin,
install,
anchor,
glue,
cement,
implant,
embed,
fasten,
make fast
in the sense of harden
Definition
to make or become stronger or firmer
Their action can only serve to harden the attitude of landowners.
Synonyms
reinforce,
strengthen,
fortify,
steel,
nerve,
brace,
toughen,
buttress,
gird,
indurate
Synonyms of 'tighten'
tighten
Explore 'tighten' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of heighten
Definition
to make or become higher or more intense
The move has heightened tension in the state.
Synonyms
intensify,
increase,
add to,
improve,
strengthen,
enhance,
sharpen,
aggravate,
magnify,
amplify,
augment
in the sense of narrow
Definition
to make or become narrow
This sign means that the road narrows on both sides.
Synonyms
get narrower,
taper,
shrink,
tighten,
constrict
in the sense of pucker
Definition
to gather into wrinkles
She puckered her lips at the sour taste of lemon.
Synonyms
wrinkle,
tighten,
purse,
pout,
contract,
gather,
knit,
crease,
compress,
crumple,
ruffle,
furrow,
screw up,
crinkle,
draw together,
ruck up,
ruckle
in the sense of screw
Definition
to attach or fasten with or as if with a screw or screws
I like the sort of shelving that you screw on the wall.
Synonyms
fasten,
fix,
attach,
bolt,
clamp,
rivet
in the sense of secure
Definition
to attach; make fast or firm
The frames are secured by horizontal rails to the back wall.
Synonyms
attach,
stick,
fix,
bind,
pin,
lash,
glue,
fasten,
rivet
in the sense of stiffen
Definition
to make or become stiff or stiffer
The blood supply to the skin is reduced when muscles stiffen.
Synonyms
tighten,
tense (up),
tauten,
become stiff
in the sense of strain
Definition
to make an intense effort
Several thousand supporters strained to catch a glimpse of the new president.