How to Use tight in a Sentence

tight

1 of 2 adjective
  • She made a tight knot in the rope.
  • Pull the ribbon tight and make a bow.
  • Keep a tight grip on his hand when you cross the street.
  • The lid is too tight. I can't loosen it.
  • These last two games have been tight.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The script was so good and so tight.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
  • That’s why things may still feel tight.
    — Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
  • Fred put me in tight spots all the time.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Her voice was tight but steady on the phone.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • But tight ones could take days or even weeks.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
  • This all leads to tighter, firmer, and brighter skin.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
  • There are no gaps or places where the band is too tight.
    — Sabrina Rojas Weiss, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Like a tight hug after a long day.
    — Alison Cochrun, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • May the real match be that tight.
    — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • His schedule is way tighter than mine.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The race was much tighter and the results flipped.
    — Karen Brooks Harper austin Bureau, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Life’s too short and budgets are too tight.
    — Chris Cardillo, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2026
  • Most hand soaps leave my hands feeling tight and dry.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The field is crowded and polling shows the race is tight.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 June 2026
  • Gulutzan’s leash on his goalie should now be nice and tight.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2026
  • This way, your left with a fresh face and no tight feeling.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 8 June 2026
  • My feet were, still, far too tight from the climbing tape.
    — Junnelle Hogen, Outside, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Some were too tight in the shoulders or too loose in the waist.
    — Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
  • These guys keep it tight around the ankle and up above their leg.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • This way, you're left with a fresh face and no tight feeling.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 23 June 2026
  • Klafs wants to give even those tight on space a chance to sweat it out at home.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Look for sprouts that have tight leaves that are bright green in color.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Winter and Gould have been tight for years.
    — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Liu hugged Sakamoto tight and long.
    — Nbc News, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
  • This is a tight, tight league, and the room for error is very slim.
    — Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025

tight

2 of 2 adverb
  • Is the door shut tight?
  • She screwed the cap on tight.
  • Don't close the lid so tight.
  • We were packed as tight as sardines on the bus.
  • Those kids will keep the day tight.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
  • Ning On locked these thoughts tight in her throat.
    — Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Sutton aligned tight on the left.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
  • His body was locked tight and trembling.
    — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Use tight-fitting trash can lids.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Utah kept the game tight in the neutral zone.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
  • Pinckney wrapped her arms tight around her chest.
    — Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Tim smiled and hugged her tight, and said goodbye.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
  • The mother threw her arms around him and hugged tight.
    — Lizz Schumer, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Around her neck, a light blue bandana -- tied tight.
    — Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 14 May 2026
  • Both ends of the gourd were cut off and a skin stretched tight over one end.
    — Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The trendiest boots right now are not skin tight against the leg.
    — Marilú Almaguer, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Hold on tight — the real drama is still to come.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 23 June 2026
  • Transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
    — Lauren O'Connor, Health, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
    — Lauren O'Connor, Health, 3 Apr. 2026
  • For best results, use a pot with a tight-fitting lid.
    — Farideh Sadeghin, Saveur, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Claiborne walked in with a hoodie pulled tight over his head.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 29 May 2026
  • Pick up the ball and hold it at chest height with your elbows tight to your sides.
    — Health Editorial Team, Health, 18 Aug. 2025
  • This prevents food waste, and keeps your budget tight.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Readers eager to get their hands on this one will need to sit tight.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
  • If the top nine plays tight, that could be the difference.
    — Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 31 May 2026
  • Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.
    — John Tufts, IndyStar, 29 Aug. 2025
  • And, things can turn on a dime, so hug those kiddos extra tight!
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Chip heeled tight to my left, his ears laid back, whining softly.
    — Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Cover trash cans with tight-fitting lids.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Stand back up, keeping your core tight and pressing through your heels.
    — Jenna Anderson, Health, 6 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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