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tighten

verb tight·en \ˈtī-t^ən\

: to make (something) tight or tighter or to become tight or tighter

tight·enedtight·en·ing \ˈtīt-niŋ, ˈtī-t^ən-iŋ\

Full Definition of TIGHTEN

transitive verb

: to make tight or tighter

intransitive verb

: to become tight or tighter

— tight·en·er \ˈtīt-nər, ˈtī-t^ən-ər\ noun

— tighten one's belt

: to practice strict economy

See tighten defined for English-language learners

See tighten defined for kids

First Known Use of TIGHTEN

circa 1727

Related to TIGHTEN

Synonyms: strain, stretch, tauten, tense

Antonyms: loosen, slack, slacken

Rhymes with TIGHTEN

brighten, Brighton, chitin, chiton, frighten, heighten, lighten, titan, triton, whiten

TIGHTENED Defined for Kids

tighten

verb tight·en \ˈtī-t^ən\

tight·enedtight·en·ing

Definition of TIGHTEN for Kids

: to make or become tight <He tightened his grip.>

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "tighten"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "tighten"

Nglish: Translation of "tighten" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "tighten" for Arabic speakers

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