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tight

tight

6 1.0
In a way that holds something firmly and not loose
  • adverb
  • /taɪt/
translation icon : firmemente
  • Hold on tight as we take this steep turn!
  • pull tight
  • hold tight
  • wrap tight

Hold your hands tighter so I can see my destiny, she said.

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Examples

  • I told you to sit tight down there, didn't I?

  • Hold on tight through the night.

  • Just hold on tight now.

  • All right, now really hold on tight now... because we're gonna get some rough stuff when we hit the wash.

  • I found myself pulling away from him, my back pressed tight against the chair.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Then, suddenly conscious of the doughnut box, she clutches it tight against her chest.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • You need to grip the railing tight to avoid falling.

  • She kept the package tight against her side to prevent it from slipping out.

Synonyms

tightly
vstight
166 1.0

In a firm way so something does not move or open

focuses more on being fixed in place than on close packing
firmly
vstight
125 1.0

With a strong, secure hold so something does not move

is more about close fitting than lasting stability
snugly
vstight
5 2.7

In a way that fits closely and comfortably so it is not loose

is more about being fixed and unlikely to move than comfort
tautly
vstight
1 5.6

In a way that is pulled tight with no slack

is about being fixed close rather than being under stretch

Antonyms

70 1.0

Not tightly packed with many spaces between parts

Idioms

sleep tight
  • Informal
14 3.4

To wish someone a good night's sleep

in a tight spot
  • Informal
8 4.2

In a difficult situation that is hard to get out of

7 5.4

Manage a group or organization strictly to keep it working well

1 7.2

In a difficult situation with little time or money

Run a team or group strictly and efficiently

Very short of money or very nervous about a situation

Compounds

tight end
  • Jargon
40 6.3

In American football, a player on offense who lines up next to the tackle and blocks and catches passes

10 2.9

A situation with only a little money to spend

6 3.5

Clothes that fit very closely to the body

Stays close to the body or an object and is not loose

A short time to finish a task

A group of people who know and help each other

tight money
  • Literature
2 7.5

A time when banks lend less and interest rates are high

1 3.0

Completely sealed so no air can get in or out

1 6.8

Not letting light pass through

hug-me-tight
  • Archaic
9.9

A short tight jacket for women worn in the 1800s

3.1

A cap that fits tightly to stop liquids from spilling

Being very strict about how people behave and dress

How Firmly

securely
28 2.9
tight
6 1.0
firmly
125 1.0
snugly
5 2.7
loosely
19 2.6

Surface Forms

tight positive
tighter comparative
tightest superlative

Etymology

As an adverb, tight keeps the same basic idea from its old root of 'firm' or 'close'. To hold something tight is to keep it close and not let it move.