to tighten

Examples

• All

• The PI presents bills that would tighten regulations and raise energy taxes.

  Academic text (1993)

• Standards of lending were progressively tightened, so that credit became scarcer and more expensive.

  Academic text (2008)

• We must tighten security, sir.

  Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)

• Spend less, raise rates, tighten conditions, bring inflation down.

• And we must tighten the security of the palace.

  Harum Scarum (1965)

• From now on, security control will be tightened.

  Gog (1954)

• For example, the United States tightened its economic and security relationships with most of China's neighbors.

  Academic text (2011)

• States have reacted to the new challenge by tightening state control over religious institutions such as mosques.

  Academic text (1999)

• The commission also wisely suggested eliminating the visa lottery and tightening the requirements for employment and humanitarian-based immigration.

  Academic text (1998)

• Heeding that advice, the EPA tightened its controls in granting two further authorizations for Bt maize.

  Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

T

to tighten up

vsto tighten

• Informal

9 4.4

To make rules or limits stricter

is the same meaning but without the extra word

S

to stiffen

vsto tighten

1 4.8

To make a rule or law stricter

is about making rules stricter without necessarily removing flexibility

R

to retighten

vsto tighten

5.3

Make rules or limits stricter again after they are relaxed

is making rules stricter without implying a previous loosening

S

to straiten

vsto tighten

• Archaic

9.2

Press something so it becomes narrow or tight

is about making rules or limits stricter rather than physical narrowing

Antonyms

L

to loosen

83 3.3

Make rules or limits less strict

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 Strict

to crack down

63 3.8

to clamp down

18 4.2

to tighten

93 3.5

to relax

26 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology