to tighten

Examples

• All

• Tighten your seat belt.

  Curious George (2006)

• You gotta tighten your belt.

  This Is 40 (2012)

• Now just pull this up, tighten the ring.

• Let me try to tighten it a little bit.

• So I guess I just tighten that up there.

• If you need to use it, tighten it.

  Dawn of the Dead (1978)

• We'll tighten up the seals, and we'll test it.

  The China Syndrome (1979)

• Place the mask over your nose and mouth and use the straps to tighten it.

  Flightplan (2005)

• Let me tighten this.

  Heat (1995)

• Before we start driving, please tighten your seat belt for safety.

Synonyms

B

to bind

vsto tighten

132 3.2

To tie something tightly with rope or string

covers any action that makes an object physically tight, not only tying

C

to clench

vsto tighten

70 3.5

To squeeze something tightly with your hands or teeth

describes making something tight by tools or adjustments, not bodily squeezing

C

to constrict

vsto tighten

30 5.6

To become tighter because of pressure or shrinking

describes general tightening not limited to pressure or shrinking

C

to cinch

vsto tighten

8 5.5

To fasten a strap tightly so it does not slip

is the broader verb for making something physically tighter by any method

T

to torque

vsto tighten

• Specialized

5 6.7

Turn something by using a twisting force, for example with a wrench to tighten a bolt

means to make something tight by any action, not only twisting

C

to clinch

vsto tighten

1 4.8

To bend the end of a nail to hold things together

refers to making something tight without naming the fastening method

R

to retighten

vsto tighten

1 3.5

Make bolts or screws tight again after they become loose

means to make something tight without implying repetition

P

to pull taut

vsto tighten

1 4.4

To make a rope or cord tight by stretching it so it is not loose

is the general act of making an object tighter, not just removing slack

T

to tauten

vsto tighten

6.2

To pull something like a rope until it becomes tight or to become tight

is the general word for that same action

F

to frap

vsto tighten

• Jargon

9.9

To tie something tightly with rope so it does not move

means making something tight in general, not only by tying

C

to constringe

vsto tighten

9.9

To become tight or to make something tight by getting smaller

covers tightening broadly, not only by contraction or compression

S

to straiten

vsto tighten

• Archaic

9.2

Press something so it becomes narrow or tight

is the general act of making something tight, not focused on squeezing

Antonyms

L

to loosen

88 1.0

Make something less tight so it can move or open

Idioms

T

to tighten one's belt

• Informal

5 5.8

Spend less and live more simply because you have less money

T

to tighten the purse strings

• Informal

1 5.8

To spend less money and control how money is used

Phrasal Verbs

T

to tighten up

• Informal

9 4.4

To make rules or limits stricter

How Tight

to clamp

47 3.3

to cinch

8 5.5

to tighten

145 1.5

to loosen

88 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology