fasten onto
phrasal verb
fastened onto; fastening onto; fastens onto
: to grip and tightly hold (something)
The stranger fastened onto my arm and wouldn't let go.
—often used figurativelyOnce he fastens onto a subject he just won't let it drop.
Examples of fasten onto in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Glow Jelly Pot features a bouncy gel lip and cheek tint and is accompanied by a little keychain version to fasten onto your bag as a charm for easy access to this perfectly light pigment (contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman has it on her Baggu's strap at this very moment).
—
Annie Blackman, Allure, 18 Mar. 2025
An empire in decline turns on itself and attacks its own organism, while fastening onto the belief that if people worked harder, the country would be saved.
—Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Made of durable nylon with two interior elastic pockets lined with microfiber, the exterior has a pocket with a magnetic snap closure and some hooks that can securely fasten onto your other Tumi bags.
—Neha Tandon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2024
Can proponents of engagement guarantee that resolving concerns about Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, for instance, won’t just lead the Americans to fasten onto a new issue in order to bring sanctions back?
—Hadi Kahalzadeh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2021
This went further than pinstripes and a grey and navy color palette: pens were fastened onto ties and stuffed into chignons, and boxy briefcases and leather garment bags resembled the accessories on the platform at Canary Wharf.
—Emma Spedding, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2023
In the background, the dark form of the Brooklyn Bridge disappears behind the market, but the necklace lights along the bridge’s cables appear to fasten onto the building’s second story, a link across the few blocks between them.
—Nicole Rudick, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Annie Blackman, Allure, 18 Mar. 2025
An empire in decline turns on itself and attacks its own organism, while fastening onto the belief that if people worked harder, the country would be saved.
—Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Made of durable nylon with two interior elastic pockets lined with microfiber, the exterior has a pocket with a magnetic snap closure and some hooks that can securely fasten onto your other Tumi bags.
—Neha Tandon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2024
Can proponents of engagement guarantee that resolving concerns about Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, for instance, won’t just lead the Americans to fasten onto a new issue in order to bring sanctions back?
—Hadi Kahalzadeh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2021
This went further than pinstripes and a grey and navy color palette: pens were fastened onto ties and stuffed into chignons, and boxy briefcases and leather garment bags resembled the accessories on the platform at Canary Wharf.
—Emma Spedding, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2023
In the background, the dark form of the Brooklyn Bridge disappears behind the market, but the necklace lights along the bridge’s cables appear to fasten onto the building’s second story, a link across the few blocks between them.
—Nicole Rudick, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Fasten onto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fasten%20onto. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share