Word Noun
tightness
n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈtaɪtnəs/ UK /tˈaɪtnəs/ tight·ness UK spelling tightnesses
Definition
n.a feeling of being very full, stiff, or difficult to move. You might feel this in your muscles after exercising or in your throat when you are nervous.
n.a state of being constricted, restricted, or difficult to move; a sensation of pressure or stiffness. Often used to describe physical sensations or the lack of space in a container.
Examples
“I felt a sudden tightness in my chest.”
“The tightness in the muscles made it difficult for the athlete to finish the race.”
“The sudden tightness in the atmosphere suggested that the negotiations were reaching a breaking point, with neither side willing to compromise on their core demands.”
Etymology
From tight + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated