B1adjective1K

Tight

UK /["/taɪt/"]/US /["/taɪt/"]/

Definition

held or fixed in position securely; difficult to move, open or separate

In simple words: Close-fitting or very firm.

Examples

The lid on the jar was too tight for me to open.
She wore a tight dress that accentuated her figure.
The game ended in a tight score, with only one point separating the teams.
He has a tight schedule this week, with meetings every day.
The competition was tight, and it was hard to predict the winner.
Make sure to tie the rope tight so it doesn't come loose.
She felt tightness in her chest during the stressful situation.
The budget was tight this year, so we had to cut back on spending.

Usage notes

Use 'tight' to describe something that is snug or has little space, such as clothing or a grip. It can also mean strict. Typically informal when used to describe relationships, such as 'tight friends'. Avoid using it in very formal contexts.

Grammar pattern

tight + adjective/noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'tightrope' walker who has to balance carefully.

Collocations

be
feel
look
extremely
fairly
very
be
feel
look
extremely
fairly
very
be
look
seem
extremely
fairly
very
be
seem
become
extremely
fairly
very
be
feel
look
extremely
fairly
very

Synonyms

constricted
close2
mean
tipsy

Antonyms

loose
baggy
slack

Common mistakes

Confused with 'tide' in pronunciation.
Using 'tight' when describing something loose.
Mixing up 'tight' with 'tighten' - which is a verb.