Definition: 1. Make tight or tighter. 2. Become tight or tighter. 3. Restrict. 4. Narrow or limit.
Use 'tighten' in a sentence:
1. You can expect that noose to continue to tighten.
2. They are now under a great deal of pressure to tighten their airport security.
3. Now, I could feel my hands sweat and my throat tighten.
4. I need to tighten this screw. It's loose.
5. The cables tightened and he was lifted gradually from the deck.
6. Until this week, every attempt to tighten up the law had failed.
7. A money market tough to tighten.
8. We need to tighten the grip we have on the market.
9. Health and environmental advocates have long urged US government agencies to tighten the use of some of the 11 chemicals the report cites and called for more studies on their long-term effects.
10. The police are tightening up on under-age drinking.
11. Health and environmental advocates having long urged U.S. government agencies to tighten the use of some of the 11 chemicals the report cites and called for more studies on their long-term effects.
12. This treatment helps tone the body, firm up muscles and tighten the skin.
13. The rebels are tightening the noose around the capital.
14. They have tightened security along the border.
15. When you are finished filling up, be sure you tighten your gas cap.
16. Regulators may tighten the screw as well.
17. The government has decided to tighten its immigration policy.
18. It's important to tighten up the wheels properly, otherwise they vibrate loose and fall off.
19. You want to tone and tighten your legs.
20. It would be unseemly for judges to receive pay increases when others are having to tighten their belts.
21. It can then tighten policy.
22. Now, several states are moving to tighten laws by adding new regulations for opting out.
23. Blood vessels in the head tighten to stop the loss of body heat and then relax to let blood flow rise; that sudden rush of blood is what causes the headache.
24. Laws on gambling have tightened up recently.
25. He knows he has considerable support for his plans to tighten his grip on the machinery of central government.
26. I want us to be a bit more sensible this time and tighten up.
27. Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.
28. The United States plans to tighten the economic sanctions currently in place.
29. The new measures are aimed at tightening existing sanctions.
30. Security tightened in the capital in readiness for the president's arrival.
31. For example, the lungs and the heart muscle expand less successfully, the blood vessels become increasingly rigid, and the ligaments and tendons tighten.
32. The thought of Nick made her throat tighten.
33. The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke.
34. With the price increases, we are all having to tighten our belts.
35. Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you'll need to tighten your belt.
36. Take-off and landing procedures have been tightened after two jets narrowly escaped disaster.
37. She saw his jaw tighten and his face lose its colour.
38. The strap is too loose. Tighten it up a bit.
39. As an example of the latter point, he notes growing efforts at major universities to tighten grading standards and restore failing grades.
40. The nuts weren't properly tightened and the wheel came off.
41. She tightened her grip on his arm.
42. The government will have to tighten the purse strings.
43. His mouth tightened into a thin line.
44. The anchorman flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope.
45. I used my thumbnail to tighten the screw on my lamp.
46. Now tighten all the screws.
47. These stomach exercises will tighten abdominal muscles.
