tightly
adverb/ˈtaɪtli/
/ˈtaɪtli/
- in a way that is very strict and hard to resist, avoid, etc.
- The project's finances are tightly controlled.
- Telecommunications is a tightly regulated industry.
- securely in position; in a way that is difficult to move, open or separate
- Her eyes were tightly closed.
- He held on tightly to her arm.
- close together; leaving little or no space between
- a tightly packed crowd of tourists
Which Word? tight / tightlytight / tightly- Tight and tightly are both adverbs that come from the adjective tight. They have the same meaning, but tight is often used instead of tightly after a verb, especially in informal language, and in compounds:
- packed tight
- a tight-fitting lid.
- Tightly can be used before or after a verb:
- These snakes kill their prey by tightly coiling their bodies around them.
- He screwed the lid on tightly.
- clusters of tightly packed flowers.
Oxford Collocations DictionaryTightly is used with these adjectives:- closed
- constrained
- organized
- …
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tightly