fasten

fasten — verb

1. to shut or lock something firmly in place so that it stays put and cannot come o

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to shut or lock something firmly in place so that it stays put and cannot come open; or to become fixed in this way through its own design

例句

Maeve fastened her seatbelt before the car pulled away.

collocation: fasten + seatbelt

The wooden gate fastens with a simple latch on the inside.

intransitive use: gate + fastens + with

同義詞
  • secure

    Slightly more formal; implies making something safe against coming loose or being taken

  • lock

    Specifically involves a mechanism such as a key or a code; narrower meaning

  • close

    More general — can mean shutting without necessarily making secure

反義詞
  • unfasten

    The direct opposite — to open or release something that was fastened

  • loosen

    To make something less tight without fully opening it

文法句型

fasten + object

object + fasten + adverb

用法筆記

Can be used transitively (fasten something) or intransitively (something fastens). The intransitive form often describes how an object closes or locks — for example, 'the bag fastens with a zipper.'

常見錯誤

❌She tightened her seatbelt before driving.
✅She fastened her seatbelt before driving.
💡'Tighten' means to make an already-fastened belt tighter; 'fasten' means to close and buckle it in the first place.
❌She closed the necklace around her neck.
✅She fastened the necklace around her neck.
💡'Close' is for doors and containers; 'fasten' is the correct verb for jewellery and clothing that clasps or clips shut.

2. to join one object to another using a device such as a string, clip, button, or

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to join one object to another using a device such as a string, clip, button, or rope so that they stay connected

例句

Élise fastened the photo to the fridge door with a small magnet.

pattern: fasten + object + to + object

Hari fastened one end of the rope to the back of the truck to hold the furniture in place.

同義詞
  • attach

    Very similar in meaning; 'attach' is slightly more formal and often used for documents or digital files

  • tie

    Specifically involves string, rope, or cord tied in a knot

  • clip

    Uses a clip or similar device

反義詞
  • detach

    Formal opposite — to separate something that was attached

文法句型

fasten + object + to/onto + object

fasten + object + around + object

用法筆記

The object being attached is the direct object of fasten, and the thing it is attached to follows a preposition — most often to, onto, or around.

常見錯誤

❌He sticked the poster to the wall with tape.
✅He fastened the poster to the wall with tape.
💡'Stick' is not a regular past-tense verb, and 'fasten' is the standard word for attaching with tape or adhesive.

3. to hold something very tightly by wrapping your arms, hands, or teeth around it

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to hold something very tightly by wrapping your arms, hands, or teeth around it and keeping hold

例句

Tunde fastened his arms around the tree trunk to keep himself from falling off the cliff.

pattern: fasten + arms + around + object

The little puppy fastened its teeth into the old shoe and would not let go.

pattern: fasten + teeth + into + object

同義詞
  • grip

    More direct and common; does not require the body-part-as-object structure

  • clutch

    Suggests a more desperate or urgent hold

  • clamp

    Suggests a very tight, immovable hold

反義詞
  • release

    To let go of something one was gripping

文法句型

fasten + body part + around/into + object

用法筆記

The direct object is always a part of the body (arms, hands, teeth, fingers), followed by a preposition showing what is being gripped. The subject is the person or animal doing the gripping.

4. to keep your eyes or your thoughts directed steadily at a particular person or t

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

to keep your eyes or your thoughts directed steadily at a particular person or thing without looking or thinking elsewhere

例句

The detective fastened his gaze on the man in the dark coat across the crowded station.

pattern: fasten + gaze + on + object; formal register

Rachel fastened her eyes on the finish line and kept running with all her strength.

同義詞
  • fix

    Very similar — 'fix your eyes on something' means the same

  • focus

    More common in everyday speech; works for both eyes and attention

  • concentrate

    Specifically about attention, not eye contact

文法句型

fasten + eyes/gaze/attention + on/upon + object

用法筆記

The object is always eyes, gaze, or attention (never a person or object directly). The pattern is fasten + object + on/upon + target. This sense is primarily used in written or literary English.