fasten

verb

fas·​ten ˈfa-sᵊn How to pronounce fasten (audio)
fastened; fastening ˈfa-sᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce fasten (audio)
ˈfas-niŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: to attach especially by pinning, tying, or nailing
b
: to make fast and secure
c
: to fix firmly or securely
d
: to secure against opening
2
: to fix or set steadily
fastened her attention on the main problem
3
: to take a firm grip with
the dog fastened its teeth in the shoe
4
a
: to attach (oneself) persistently and usually objectionably
b
: to place forcefully : impose
fastened the blame on the wrong person

intransitive verb

1
: to become fast or fixed
2
a
: to take a firm grip or hold
b
: to focus attention
fastener
ˈfa-sᵊn-ər How to pronounce fasten (audio)
ˈfas-nər
noun
Choose the Right Synonym for fasten

fasten, fix, attach, affix mean to make something stay firmly in place.

fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing.

fasten the reins to a post

fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding.

fixed the stake in the ground

attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together.

attach the W-2 form here

affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing.

affix your address label here

Examples of fasten in a Sentence

fastening clothes on a clothesline He fastened the dog's leash to a post and went into the store. two boards fastened together by nails a decorative clasp that could be used to fasten a cape or cloak a shoe that fastens with a buckle This dress fastens in the back. She twisted her hair into a bun and fastened it with bobby pins. Make sure the lid is tightly fastened. The lock was so damaged it wouldn't fasten. He fastened his hands on my arm and wouldn't let go.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Both sported a double strand of pearls and had American flag pins fastened to their lapels. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024 The crawl space seismic defect Because the home hasn’t been fastened tightly to the foundation, the house can slide or topple off its foundation in an earthquake, potentially leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024 Her hair was styled over her shoulder in loose curls, fastened to the side with a powder blue ribbon. Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2024 Sometimes, the bodies were fastened to the boats and paddled to an opening in the shoreline. Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fasten 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fastnen, from Old English fæstnian to make fast; akin to Old High German festinōn to make fast, Old English fæst fast

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fasten was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near fasten

Cite this Entry

“Fasten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fasten. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fasten

verb
fas·​ten ˈfas-ᵊn How to pronounce fasten (audio)
fastened; fastening ˈfas-niŋ How to pronounce fasten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to attach or join by or as if by pinning, tying, or nailing
fasten clothes on a line
2
: to make fast : fix securely
fasten a door
3
: to fix or set steadily
fastened their eyes on the distant ship
4
: to become fixed or joined
the shoes fasten with a buckle
fastener
ˈfas-nər How to pronounce fasten (audio)
-ᵊn-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fasten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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