tight en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /taɪt/
- tīt
Etymology
From Middle English tight, tyght, tyȝt, tiht, variants of thight, thiht, from Old English *þiht, *þīht (attested in meteþiht), from Proto-West Germanic *þį̄ht(ī), from Proto-Germanic *þinhtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *tenkt- (“dense, thick, tight”), from Proto-Indo-European *ten- (“to stretch, pull”). Cognate with Scots ticht, West Frisian ticht, Danish tæt, Icelandic þéttur (“dense”), Norwegian tett, Swedish tät, Dutch dicht (“dense”), German dicht (“dense”). The current form with t- /t/ rather than etymologically-expected th- /θ/ arose in Middle English under the influence of the etymologically-unrelated verbs tighten and tight, which come from a different Proto-Indo-European root (starting with *d- and thus regularly having t-).
Meanings
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Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open.
Pull your seatbelts tight before takeoff.
a tight sponge; a tight knot
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Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open. ▸ Unyielding or firm.
tight control on a situation
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Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open. ▸ Under high tension; taut.
The only negative from a comfortable first-half was the sight of Aston Villa’s Nathan Delfouneso being withdrawn with a tight hamstring after only 11 minutes.
2011 November 10, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, in Telegraph:Global supply chains, meanwhile, have grown both tighter and more supple since the late 1990s—the result of improving information technology and of freer trade—making routine work easier to relocate.
2011 July 25, Don Peck, “Can the Middle Class Be Saved?”, in The Atlantic:The face which emerged was not reassuring. It was blunt and grey, the nose springing thick and flat from high on the frontal bone of the forehead, whilst his eyes were narrow slits of dark in a tight bandage of tissue. […].
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 17, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:Make sure to pull the rope tight.
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(colloquial) Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open. ▸ Scarce, hard to come by.
China’s currency, the jenminpi, has remained stable; the Chinese assert that it is the "world’s most stable currency." This is generally conceded to be the result of the care with which the Chinese economy and its tight budget are managed.
1974, “Asia and the Pacific”, in Yearbook on International Communist Affairs 1974, Stanford, Cali.: Hoover Institution Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 428:I grew up in a poor neighborhood; money was very tight, but we made do.
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(figuratively, informal, of persons or relationships) Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open. ▸ Intimate, close, close-knit, intimately friendly.
The drawbacks of being in a too-tight couple (there's no room to blow your nose)
1985 April 20, Julie Ogletree, “Festival: Variety and Limits”, in Gay Community News, page 8:We've grown tighter over the years.
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(derogatory, figuratively, slang, usually) Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open. ▸ Miserly or frugal.
You say he's a Jew, does it mean that he's tight?
1995, Jewel, “Who Will Save Your Soul”:He's a bit tight with his money.
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(slang) Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open. ▸ Short of money.
I started gambling when you were about four. Your mom and I were pretty tight for cash and I thought what the heck, it could get us some quick money.
2015, Melissa Pearl, Poker Face:
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(of a space, qualifier:design or arrangement) Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it.
The passageway was so tight we could barely get through.
England squeezed high and dominated the ball, penning Iceland back but the hosts kept the lines tight and it became clear that England would have to work for their openings.
2020 September 5, David Hytner, “Raheem Sterling keeps his cool to see off Iceland amid blaze of late drama”, in The Guardian:Armed forces and RCMP officers formed tight grid lines to search the surrounding woods and rural fields.
2026 July 25, Nicholas Muhoro, “The Last Call of Jo-Anne Pedersen, the Girl Who Vanished From a Payphone”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026:They flew in a tight formation.
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(of a space, qualifier:design or arrangement) Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it. ▸ Fitting close, or too close, to the body.
tight clothing; a tight coat; My socks are too tight.
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(of a space, qualifier:design or arrangement) Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it. ▸ Of a turn, sharp, so that the timeframe for making it is narrow and following it is difficult.
The mountain pass was made dangerous by its many tight corners.
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(of a space, qualifier:design or arrangement) Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it. ▸ Lacking holes; difficult to penetrate; waterproof.
Security is tight inside and outside the building, guarded by a bewildering collection of soldiers, policemen and gendarmes. Relatives watch as prisoners in handcuffs and leg irons shuffle past.
2014 November 27, Ian Black, “Courts kept busy as Jordan works to crush support for Isis”, in The Guardian:He reported the hull was tight and secure and did not leak a drop.
1965, MotorBoating, page 145:
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(of a space, qualifier:design or arrangement) Narrow, such that it is difficult for something or someone to pass through it. ▸ Close, very similar in a value such as score or time.
Frank ended up fourth in a tight finish, only three-quarter of a length from first money.
1984, Harness Horse:Syracuse had built another good first half lead of 11 points. In the second half, however, Kansas came back and the score was tight through the rest of the game. In the final seconds, Syracuse led 81-78.
2012 September 30, John Torres, Carmelo Anthony, Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc., →ISBN, page 14:We lost 1-0 the next day and, although it wasn't a bad performance, I couldn't help thinking that those one, two or even three drinks for some of the lads might have made all the difference to the tight scoreline.
2023 June 1, Pat Nevin, Football And How To Survive It, Hachette UK, →ISBN:[…] was a tight game and particularly low-scoring in the first half.
2022, Lew Freedman, Caught by Don Hutson!, page 78:
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Well-rehearsed and accurate in execution.
Their marching band is extremely tight.
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Well-rehearsed and accurate in execution. ▸ Not conceding many goals.
The odd thing was that Sunderland made the better start and showed early signs that they might pose serious problems to the Premier League’s tightest defence.
2014 October 18, Paul Doyle, “Southampton hammer eight past hapless Sunderland in barmy encounter”, in The Guardian:
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(slang) Intoxicated; drunk.
We went drinking and got tight.
And every single night when me da’ would come home tight he’d invite the neighbours out with this chorus.
c. 1930, Dominic Behan, “Come Out Ye Black and Tans”performed by The Wolfe Tones:Johnny walked into the Castle Bar, looking to get tight
2001, “Johnny Tarr”, in Tree, performed by Gaelic Storm:And then he insisted on champagne for dinner and by the time we got to our little cinema we were both rather tight.
1980 [1962], Ian Fleming, chapter 3, in The Spy Who Loved Me, →ISBN, page 38:Do you actually know I’ve only danced with you twice in eleven months? Not counting that time at the Vanguard when you were so tight.
1955, J. D. Salinger, “Franny”, in Franny and Zooey, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, published 1991, →ISBN, page 5:I'm going to celebrate my divorce! And then I'm going to get tight.
1940, Effie Butler, Misbehaving Husbands:No my daddy don't live in that New York City no more, no more / He can't get tight every night, pass out on the barroom floor
1975, Walter Becker, Donald Fagen, “Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More”, performed by Steely Dan:
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(slang) Extraordinarily great or special.
That is one tight bicycle!
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(Northern-England, qualifier:chiefly Liverpool, slang) Mean; unfair; unkind.
Saying shit about people's mums, that's tight
2020, “M to the B”performed by Millie B:Reilly: Ey, Miss, hang on, hang on... can we come with y', Miss? Can we? Digga: Go on, Miss, don't be tight, let's come.
1977, Willy Russell, Our Day Out, act 1, scene 1:"Ah leave him, ay!" goes one of the girls. "Don't be tight." I turns to her. "Don't you think it's tight terrorising old ladies? Ay?"
2001, Kevin Sampson, Outlaws, page 244:"That's right ... so even when life's a grind, the Thais keep smiling. They think the farang are a miserable lot who have to get drunk to enjoy themselves." "Dutch, that's tight mate, I mean what's wrong with getting pissed. When you're not working, you gotta have a good time," said Darren.
2011, Andrew Hicks, Thai Girl: A story of the one who said 'no', unnumbered page:
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(of time) Limited or restricted.
It is kept super-clean by helpful staff who still find the time to help customers with tight connections.
2022 January 12, Paul Bigland, “Fab Four: the nation's finest stations: Eastbourne”, in RAIL, number 948, page 26:We had a very tight schedule.
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(obsolete) Not ragged; whole; neat; tidy.
clad very plain, but clean and tight
1685 November 4 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 26 October 1685]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC:“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; and she looked it, always trim and trig and smooth of surface like a converted yacht cleared for action. ¶ Near her wandered her husband[…]from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:Richard: But here she comes! [...] (Enter Rose — he is much struck by her.) By the Port Admiral, but she's a tight little craft!
1887, W. S. Gilbert, Ruddigore:I'll spin and card, and keep our children tight.
1714, John Gay, The What D'ye Call It:
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(obsolete) Handy; adroit; brisk.
[S]ince we've sailed together, I've been conning over in my mind that the company of such miserable thieves and robbers was not to your liking, and would not suit such a tight lad with as good larning ^([sic]) as yourself.
1846, George Little, The American Cruiser's Own Book, page 21:
- Of a player, who plays very few hands.
- Using a strategy which involves playing very few hands.
- (US, slang) With understeer, primarily used to describe NASCAR stock cars.
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(New-York, slang) Angry or irritated.
"I was trying to be like a lady, but y'all be getting me tight!"
2016, Cardi B, Washpoppin:
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(slang, vulgar) Of a person, having a tight vagina or anus.
One thing I noticed was that she was much tighter than Kari. She was so tight, in fact, that entering her was initially painful.
2021, Brandon Varnell, WIEDERGEBURT: Legend of the Reincarnated Warrior: Volume 8, Kitsune Incorporated, →ISBN:She was much tighter than he thought she would be. It had been a while since she had anything but oral sex she had an adrenaline rush as she heart began to pound.
2008 July 2, Linda Mi-Suk Enos, The Korean Palace of Honolulu Revised (6x9), Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 222:She was very tight and wet at the same time. He never had sex with a maiden before.
2014 August 26, Agnieszka Roeske, Not the One for Her, Page Publishing Inc, →ISBN:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tightest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| tighter | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
pleasant · bungling (antonym(s) of) · loose (antonym(s) of) · roomy · maladroit · slack (antonym(s) of “well-rehearsed and accurate”) · sloppy (antonym(s) of “well-rehearsed and accurate”) · wide · rubbish · on the wagon · scattergood · capacious · broad (antonym(s) of) · slapdash (antonym(s) of “well-rehearsed and accurate”) · slack · saggy · generous (antonym(s) of) · messy · unskilful · baggy (antonym(s) of) · open · loose · unruly (antonym(s) of) · sagging · pathetic · spacious · prodigal · naff · relaxed · clearheaded (antonym(s) of) · nice (antonym(s) of) · crap (antonym(s) of)
Deriveds
vaportight · tight as a tick · as tight as a gnat's chuff · tight five · windtight · tightwire · weapons tight · skintight · tight slap · tight as a duck's ass · as tight as Dick's hatband · sticktight · tighten · tight as a duck's arse · untight · high and tight · tightlock · ultratight · supertight · weathertight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · tightknit · light-tight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · tight building syndrome · raintight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · tight-assed · tight-laced · tight lattice · tight spot · tighthead · dust-tight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · in tight · sun-tight · overtight · blow me tight · tight ship · tight closure · tight as a drum · tight-fisted · hug-me-tight · tightlacing · tight junction · tight-knit · as tight as a duck's arse · hand-tight · tight-arsed · tightass · steamtight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · tight-collar · tight as a gnat's chuff · tight end · keep a tight rein on · tight-fitting · hang tight · finger tight · finger-tight · watertight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · bottle-tight · uptight · not wrapped too tight · tighter than Dick's hatband · airtight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · tightlacer · tight-lipped · tightwad · tightbeam · tighty whities · tight money · tighties · tight whites · tight as Dick's hatband · tight oil · smoketight · tightsome · tight-arse · tight pants syndrome · tight lips · stick-tight · oiltight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · tightly · tighter than wallpaper · tights · tight loop · hog tight · on a tight leash · tightish · tightrope · airtight · tightness · gastight (compound adjectives of the sense “closed or closely compacted so as to be impermeable or impervious to something”) · tight scratch · tight and curlies
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
close-fitting · taut · compact
Relateds
Synonyms
polished (well-rehearsed and accurate) · serried · ruly (not ragged) · fast · cool · fab · dense · slick · figure-hugging (fitting close to the body) · precise · trig · close (close, close-knit) · tight-fitting · niggardly (miserly or frugal) · close-knit (close, close-knit) · taut (under high tension) · snug · parsimonious · crowded (pushed/pulled together) · shipshape · under tension · blotto (slang: intoxicated) · trim · dexterous · skilful · tight · tense · narrow (narrow) · firm · crafty (handy; adroit; brisk) · intimate (close, close-knit) · ace (slang: extraordinarily great or special) · close (firmly held together) · rad · plastered · thick as thieves (close, close-knit) · secure
Translations (155)
is þéttur (under high tension — see also taut) · bg те́сен (pushed/pulled together) · fi tiukka (under high tension — see also taut) · zza tenge (diq) (pushed/pulled together) · hil hugut (pushed/pulled together) · lus mar (under high tension — see also taut) · sh tésan (pushed/pulled together) · it tirato (under high tension — see also taut) · da snæver (firmly held together) · yi ענג (pushed/pulled together) · bg оби́гран (well-rehearsed and accurate) · mi rore (slang: intoxicated or drunk) · el σφιχτός (pushed/pulled together) · bg сти́снат (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · hu szoros (firmly held together) · el σφιχτός (firmly held together) · de tight (slang: extraordinarily great or special) · cmn 緊 /紧 (firmly held together) · mk тесен (pushed/pulled together) · hy ձիգ (under high tension — see also taut) · hy կիպ (firmly held together) · id ketat (firmly held together) · cu тѫгъ (under high tension — see also taut) · ba тығыҙ (pushed/pulled together) · ceb hugot (pushed/pulled together) · de eng (under high tension — see also taut) · fi kitsas (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · mi haurangi (slang: intoxicated or drunk) · fi tiukka (firmly held together) · th แน่น (pushed/pulled together) · ja きつい (pushed/pulled together) · it teso (pushed/pulled together) · mi matapiko (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · pl ciasny (firmly held together) · mr घट्ट (firmly held together) · fi kireä (pushed/pulled together) · pdt faust (firmly held together) · lt ankštas (pushed/pulled together) · mi taparenga (firmly held together) · ltg styngrys (pushed/pulled together) · pa چَوَل (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · th คับ (pushed/pulled together) · zza pêpêya (firmly held together) · no snever (firmly held together) · lv ciešs (under high tension — see also taut) · pt justo (pushed/pulled together) · ltg stiprys (pushed/pulled together) · sq ngushtë (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · fi tiheä (firmly held together) · tr bitişik (firmly held together) · es tensionado (under high tension — see also taut) · ota كركین (under high tension — see also taut) · bcl higot (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · izh kiintiä (pushed/pulled together) · bg опънат (under high tension — see also taut) · mi kaihākere (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · pl ciasny (pushed/pulled together) · fr serré (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · tyz cặp (pushed/pulled together) · cs těsný (pushed/pulled together) · bg те́сен (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · ar ضَيِّق (pushed/pulled together) · is þröngur (under high tension — see also taut) · de eng (firmly held together) · orv тугъ (under high tension — see also taut) · it stretto (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · sl tesen (pushed/pulled together) · vi chật (pushed/pulled together) · de dicht (slang: intoxicated or drunk) · fi timmi (pushed/pulled together) · mi rawe (pushed/pulled together) · hu szoros (pushed/pulled together) · fi tiukka (well-rehearsed and accurate) · ckb تەنگ (pushed/pulled together) · hu szűk (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · acw ضَيِّق (pushed/pulled together) · ru те́сный (firmly held together) · de knapp (firmly held together) · fr ivre (slang: intoxicated or drunk) · de eng (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · fi kireä (under high tension — see also taut) · sh tijésan (pushed/pulled together) · mi tūmatarau (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · pl obcisły (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · th แน่น (firmly held together) · it stretto (pushed/pulled together) · yue 緊 /紧 (pushed/pulled together) · ru те́сный (pushed/pulled together) · sv snäv (firmly held together) · bcl piot (firmly held together) · de eng (pushed/pulled together) · sq njesh (gheh) (firmly held together) · sh те́сан (pushed/pulled together) · it aderente (pushed/pulled together) · mi hākere (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · fa تنگ (pushed/pulled together) · mi ringa poto (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · it teso (under high tension — see also taut) · lv ciešs (pushed/pulled together) · km តឹង (pushed/pulled together) · tr gergin (under high tension — see also taut) · fr tendu (pushed/pulled together) · mi porokaihākere (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · bg натараля́нкан (slang: intoxicated or drunk) · kmr teng (pushed/pulled together) · bg стегнат (firmly held together) · nl dicht (pushed/pulled together) · fi ahdas (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · sq cekët (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · es apretado (pushed/pulled together) · bg натря́скан (slang: intoxicated or drunk) · es ajustado (pushed/pulled together) · nl strak (firmly held together) · hy նեղ (pushed/pulled together) · la strictus (pushed/pulled together) · mba hugut (pushed/pulled together) · lus tâwt (pushed/pulled together) · fr tendu (under high tension — see also taut) · fi tiukka (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · izh kiintiä (firmly held together) · mi matamau (slang: mean, miserly — see also tight-fisted) · pl ciasny (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · be тугі́ (under high tension — see also taut) · es tensado (under high tension — see also taut) · sq ngjitur (firmly held together) · it nitido (well-rehearsed and accurate) · be це́сны (pushed/pulled together) · et tihe (under high tension — see also taut) · de dicht (pushed/pulled together) · pt apertado (pushed/pulled together) · uk тісни́й (pushed/pulled together) · is þrengdur (pushed/pulled together) · hy կիպ (pushed/pulled together) · mi kita (firmly held together) · ba ныҡ тартылған (under high tension — see also taut) · mi porohaurangi (slang: intoxicated or drunk) · eo strikta (pushed/pulled together) · mi ita (firmly held together) · sk tesný (pushed/pulled together) · bg нате́гнат (under high tension — see also taut) · uk туги́й (under high tension — see also taut) · sh тије́сан (pushed/pulled together) · fi tiukka (pushed/pulled together) · cu тѣснъ (pushed/pulled together) · cmn 緊張 /紧张 (under high tension — see also taut) · fr serré (pushed/pulled together) · es tenso (under high tension — see also taut) · mr घट्ट (under high tension — see also taut) · my ကျပ် (pushed/pulled together) · ru туго́й (under high tension — see also taut) · fr moulant (fitting close, or too close, to the body — see also tight-fitting) · hy ձիգ (pushed/pulled together) · cmn 緊 /紧 (pushed/pulled together) · orv тѣснъ (pushed/pulled together) · acw محزق (pushed/pulled together)