Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

fasten

/ˈfæsn̩/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.98 in modern English

Syllables: fas-ten
IPA: /ˈfæsn̩/

9

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To attach or connect in a secure manner.

verb

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

Example Sentences

"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?"
"The words Whig and Tory have been pressed to the service of many successions of parties, with very different ideas fastened to them."
"to fasten a blow"
"if I can fasten but one cup upon him"

Etymology

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

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *peh₂ǵ-, fastenen, fæstnian, *fastinōn

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfæsn̩/
British English: /ˈfɑːsn̩/

Inflected Forms

fastens (present, singular) fastening (participle, present) fastened (participle, past) fastened (past)

Derived Forms

bedfast breastfast colorfast copperfasten cragfast fast fastenable fastener fastening handfast headfast holdfast

Phrases

fasten down fasten up do up

Frequently Paired Words

do up

Synonyms

tighten fix secure

Rhymes With

assassin masson lassen casson nason hasson cason classen glasson sasson kasson bason

Questions

How do you pronounce fasten?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfæsn̩/.
What does fasten mean?: To attach or connect in a secure manner.
Where does fasten come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce fasten

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “fasten”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfæsn̩/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “fasten”.
Repeat and practice — Say “fasten” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.