tightened

/ˈtaɪ.tən/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈaɪtənd] /ˈtaɪ.tən/ (ame, ipa)

tightened — verb

  • tightenedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • tighteneds3rd person singular
  • tighteneding-ing form
  • tightenededpast simple

1. to pull, press, or turn something so that it becomes more firmly fixed, more ten

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to pull, press, or turn something so that it becomes more firmly fixed, more tense, or less loose; also used when something naturally becomes less loose or more tense on its own. In a more abstract sense, it means to make rules, controls, or restrictions stricter.

例句

Ada tightened the screws on the wooden bookshelf with a screwdriver.

tighten + noun (concrete physical object)

The city government tightened the rules for street food vendors last month.

tighten + rules (abstract: make stricter)

同義詞
  • fasten

    more general: closing or attaching something, not specifically making it tighter

  • stiffen

    focuses on becoming rigid rather than less loose

  • restrict

    overlaps only in the abstract sense of making rules stricter

  • strengthen

    focuses on making something stronger, not tighter

反義詞
  • loosen

    direct opposite: to make less tight or firmly fixed

  • relax

    opposite for abstract sense: to make rules less strict

  • release

    to let go of something held tight

文法句型

tighten + noun (object)

tighten + noun + preposition

noun + tighten (intransitive)

用法筆記

Commonly used both transitively (tighten + object) and intransitively (something tightens). In figurative use, it frequently appears with abstract nouns such as rules, security, controls, or restrictions. The phrasal verb tighten up conveys a similar meaning with emphasis on completeness.

常見錯誤

❌She tight her bag before going outside.
✅She tightened her bag before going outside.
💡'Tight' is an adjective; the verb form is 'tighten'.
❌I need to more tighten this screw.
✅I need to tighten this screw more.
💡'Tighten' is already a verb; do not add 'more' before it as if it were an adjective.
❌The government tight the security.
✅The government tightened the security.
💡Use the correct past-tense form 'tightened'.