Standard Lemma guide

fasten

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈfɑːsn̩/
  • General-American: /ˈfæsn̩/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with (Received Pronunciation) -ɑːsən
  • rhymes with (General American) -æsən
  • CMU ARPABET: F AE1 S AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To attach or connect in a secure manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Examples

  • The sailor fastened the boat to the dock with a half-hitch.
  • Fasten your seat belts!
  • Can you fasten these boards together with some nails?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cause to take close effect; to make to tell; to land.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • to fasten a blow

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

make tight or tighter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Tighten the wire

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tighten

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: frap, tauten, firm, screw, wind, wind up

4

verb

Meaning 4

attach to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • They fastened various nicknames to each other

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: attach

5

verb

Meaning 5

cause to be firmly attached

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • fasten the lock onto the door
  • she fixed her gaze on the man

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fix, secure

Antonyms: unfasten

Broader terms: attach

Narrower terms: strap, tie, bind, rig, bitt, latch, garter, chain, cable, picket, rope up, cinch, girth, bandage, cramp, cleat, anchor, cast anchor, drop anchor, ground, moor, berth, tie up, spike, sew, run up, sew together, stitch, crank, noose, chock, brad, bight, belay, bar, clamp, velcro, stay, clinch, lock, lock up, hasp, zip up, zipper, zip, tack, string, hook, belt, cement, grout, staple, rivet, button, pin, hang, hang up, lodge, wedge, stick, deposit, entrench, intrench, buckle, clasp, brooch, stake, wire, coapt, joggle, joint, toggle

6

verb

Meaning 6

become fixed or fastened

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This dress fastens in the back

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: unfasten

Broader terms: attach

Narrower terms: glue, stick

History

Etymology

From Middle English fastenen, from Old English fæstnian, from Proto-West Germanic *fastinōn (“to secure, fasten”). Equivalent to fast + -en.

Across languages

Translations

86 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: taxmaq — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Bulgarian: свързвам (svǎrzvam) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Bulgarian: закрепвам (zakrepvam) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Catalan: cordar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Chinese Mandarin: 系住 (xìzhù) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Chinese Mandarin: 扣住 (kòuzhù) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Chinese Mandarin: 閂上 /闩上 (shuānshàng) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Choctaw: afachʋli — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Czech: připoutat — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Czech: připevnit — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Danish: fastgøre — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Danish: fæstne — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Danish: sætte fast — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Danish: hæfte — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Dutch: vastmaken — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Finnish: kiinnittää — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • French: attacher — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • French: fixer — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Galician: amarrar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Galician: trincar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Galician: atar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Georgian: დამაგრება (damagreba) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Georgian: მიმაგრება (mimagreba) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • German: befestigen — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • German: festmachen — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Gothic: 𐌲𐌰𐍅𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌽 (gawidan) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Greek: δένω (déno) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Ancient Greek: πήγνυμι (pḗgnumi) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Ancient Greek: ἐξάπτω (exáptō) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Hungarian: rögzít — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Irish: ceangail — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Irish: greamaigh — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Japanese: 締める (shimeru) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Japanese: 留める (tomeru) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Kabuverdianu: butuá — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Kabuverdianu: bôtua — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Latin: nectō — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Latin: pangō — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Lithuanian: segti — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: whakatina — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: whakangita — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: tīpona — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: makatiti — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: pine — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: titi — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: whakamau — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: whakapiri — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: whakarapa — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: whakarawa — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: kōtui — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: tautara — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: tāmau — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: mātiti — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: whakananawe — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Māori: pona — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Norwegian: spenne fast — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Norwegian Bokmål: feste — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: feste — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Old English: bindan — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Persian: بستن (bastan) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Polish: zapinać — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Polish: zapiąć — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Portuguese: apertar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Portuguese: atar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Portuguese: firmar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Portuguese: segurar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Romanian: fixa — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Romanian: atașa — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Russian: закрепля́ть (zakrepljátʹ) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Russian: крепи́ть (krepítʹ) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Russian: закрепи́ть (zakrepítʹ) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Russian: привя́зывать (privjázyvatʹ) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Russian: привяза́ть (privjazátʹ) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Spanish: atar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Spanish: abrochar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Spanish: fijar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Spanish: prender — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Spanish: sujetar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Spanish: subjectar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Spanish: pegar — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Swedish: fästa — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Swedish: sätta fast — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Swedish: spänna fast — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Tày: bọp — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Ottoman Turkish: باغلامق (bağlamak) — to attach or connect in a secure manner
  • Ottoman Turkish: ربط ایتمك (rabt etmek) — to attach or connect in a secure manner