tight

/taɪt/

/taɪt/

Other forms: tighter; tightest

If something is closed or fastened so firmly that it can barely be moved, it's tight. And if you accidentally shrunk your favorite pair of jeans in the wash, they might be tight too.

There are many ways to use this handy adjective, including to mean "very firm," like the tight grip you keep on your dog's leash, and "strictly imposed," like a movie star's tight security. If things in your household are tight, they're scarce: "Money's tight this month, so it's peanut butter for lunch." And if you and your cousin are tight, it means you're emotionally close to each other.

Definitions of tight
  1. adjective
    closely constrained or constricted or constricting
    “tight skirts”
    “he hated tight starched collars”
    “fingers closed in a tight fist”
    “a tight feeling in his chest”
    Synonyms:
    choky
    so tight as to tend to choke
    clenched, clinched
    closed or squeezed together tightly
    close, close-fitting, snug
    fitting closely but comfortably
    skin-tight, skintight
    so tight as to cling to the skin
    skinny, tight fitting, tight-fitting, tightfitting, tightly fitting
    fitting snugly
    viselike
    clamped as in a vise
    tense
    taut or rigid; stretched tight
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    loose
    not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting
    baggy, loose-fitting, sloppy
    not fitting closely; hanging loosely
    flyaway
    (of hair or clothing) worn loose
    lax
    lacking in strength or firmness or resilience
    show more antonyms...
  2. adjective
    packed closely together
    “they stood in a tight little group”
    “hair in tight curls”
    Synonyms:
    compact
    closely and firmly united or packed together
  3. adjective
    pressed tightly together
    synonyms: compressed
    closed, shut
    used especially of mouth or eyes
  4. adjective
    of such close construction as to be impermeable
    “a tight roof”
    “warm in our tight little house”
    Synonyms:
    air-tight, airtight, gas-tight
    not allowing air or gas to pass in or out
    dripless
    designed to prevent dripping
    hermetic
    completely sealed; completely airtight
    leakproof
    not subject to leaks
    rainproof, waterproof, waterproofed
    not permitting the passage of water
    snug
    well and tightly constructed
    watertight
    not allowing water to pass in or out
    impermeable
    preventing especially liquids to pass or diffuse through
    seaworthy
    fit for a sea voyage
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    leaky
    permitting the unwanted passage of fluids or gases
    drafty, draughty
    not airtight
    drippy
    leaking in drops
    oozing, oozy, seeping
    leaking out slowly
    holey, porous
    allowing passage in and out
    permeable
    allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
    unseaworthy
    unfit for a voyage
    show more antonyms...
  5. adjective
    of textiles
    “smooth percale with a very tight weave”
    synonyms: close
    fine
    of textures that are smooth to the touch or substances consisting of relatively small particles
  6. adjective
    set so close together as to be invulnerable to penetration
    “in tight formation”
    “a tight blockade”
    Synonyms:
    invulnerable
    immune to attack; impregnable
  7. adjective
    pulled or drawn tight
    “a tight drumhead”
    “a tight rope”
    synonyms: taut
    tense
    taut or rigid; stretched tight
  8. adverb
    firmly or closely
    “held tight”
    synonyms: fast
  9. adjective
    securely or solidly fixed in place; rigid
    “the bolts are tight”
    Synonyms:
    secure
    not likely to fail or give way
  10. adjective
    (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
    synonyms: mean, mingy, miserly
    stingy, ungenerous
    unwilling to spend
  11. adjective
    affected by scarcity and expensive to borrow
    “tight money”
    “a tight market”
    Synonyms:
    scarce
    deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand
  12. adjective
    (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched
    “a tight game”
    synonyms: close
    equal
    having the same quantity, value, or measure as another
  13. adjective
    very drunk
    synonyms: cockeyed
    drunk, inebriated, intoxicated
    stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
  14. adjective
    exasperatingly difficult to handle or circumvent
    “a good man to have on your side in a tight situation”
    synonyms: nasty
    difficult, hard
    not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
  15. adjective
    demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
    “tight security”
    synonyms: rigorous, stringent
    demanding
    requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill
  16. adverb
    in an attentive manner
    synonyms: close, closely
Pronunciation
US

/taɪt/
UK

/taɪt/
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