Tighten

/ˈtaɪtən/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to make something tighter or more secure by applying pressure

Please tighten the screws on the chair to ensure it's stable.

to become tighter or more secure

As the temperature dropped, the fabric began to tighten around the seams.

to make something stricter or more controlled

The school decided to tighten the rules regarding student conduct.

to increase the intensity or degree of something

The coach asked the players to tighten their focus during the final minutes of the game.

From the Old English 'tihþan', meaning 'to make tight'.

tighten one's belt

To spend less money; to be more frugal.

tighten the screws

To increase pressure or control in a situation.

tighten up

To improve performance or efficiency.

tight

Having little or no give; firmly held together.

tightness

The state of being tight; the quality of being secure or compressed.

tightrope

A rope or wire stretched tight for acrobatic performances.

To make a situation more acute or serious.

Things are getting tense, we need to tighten up our plans.

To become more disciplined or focused.

After the last meeting, he decided to tighten his game.