# tether

/ˈtɛðɝ/ (US) · /tˈɛðɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tether
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a physical rope or chain

noun · CEFR B2

a rope, chain, or cable that ties an animal or object to a post so it can move only in a small area.

For teachers: a rope, chain, or similar restraint that attaches an object or animal to a fixed point while permitting limited movement within a specific radius.

- The goat was tied to a long tether so it could graze in the field.
- The astronaut remained attached to the station by a safety tether during the entire duration of the extravehicular activity.

### 2. limit of patience

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

the limit of your patience, strength, or ability to deal with a difficult situation.

For teachers: the limit of one's endurance, resources, or patience; almost exclusively used in the idiom 'at the end of one's tether'.

- After the baby cried for three hours, the tired mother was at the end of her tether.
- Having exhausted all legal avenues and financial reserves, the small business owner felt he was finally at the end of his tether.

Usage: Commonly appears in the fixed phrase 'at the end of one's tether'.

Teaching tip: In American English, the equivalent idiom is usually 'at the end of one's rope'.

### 3. to tie something down

verb · CEFR B2

to tie an animal or object to a fixed point using a rope or chain.

For teachers: to fasten or restrict an animal or object with a tether. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- Make sure you tether the boat securely to the dock before the storm starts.
- The researchers had to tether the weather balloon to a heavy vehicle to prevent it from drifting away during the calibration process.

### 4. to share internet

verb · CEFR B2

to connect a computer or tablet to a mobile phone to use its internet connection.

For teachers: to use a mobile device as a gateway to provide internet access to other devices. Often used in computing contexts.

- I had to tether my laptop to my phone because the office Wi-Fi was down.
- The journalist was able to file her report from the remote village by tethering her tablet to a satellite phone.

Usage: Often used with 'to'.

## Examples

- The dog is tied to a long tether in the garden.
- The satellite remains in orbit because of the gravitational tether that keeps it from drifting away.
- While the physical tether provides a sense of security, the digital tether often feels more restrictive, as it limits our ability to access information without a constant internet connection.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.