1
a
: a line (as of rope or chain) by which an animal is fastened so as to restrict its range of movement
b
: a line to which someone or something is attached (as for security)
A crewman can clip the tether of his harness to the [safety line] and leave it clipped as he makes his way forward and aft.—
Michael A. Smith
Michael A. Smith2
: the limit of one's strength or resources
I'm at the end of my tether.
tethered; tethering
ˈte-t͟h(ə-)riŋ 
: to fasten or restrain by or as if by a tether
felt tethered to her desk until the work was done
Examples of tether in a Sentence
Verb
They tethered the horses in the shade.
The dog was tethered to the fence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
This illuminated inflatable can be set up quickly and comes with tether cords and ground stakes to keep it securely in place.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Doorway Stretch The doorway stretch targets your pectorals (chest muscles), which are commonly tight in people who spend a lot of time in a forward, rounded position, including cyclists, desk workers, and anyone tethered to their smartphone.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tether
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Noun
Quirarte had switched to a still camera when Slebir, towed on a Jet Ski by his longtime surfing buddy Luca Padua of Half Moon Bay, hurled to the crest of the gigantic wave and let go of his tether.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
This illuminated inflatable can be set up quickly and comes with tether cords and ground stakes to keep it securely in place.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Rather than tethering them to screens, students prototyped with cardboard, paper, and recycled materials.
—Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Doorway Stretch The doorway stretch targets your pectorals (chest muscles), which are commonly tight in people who spend a lot of time in a forward, rounded position, including cyclists, desk workers, and anyone tethered to their smartphone.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tether
Cite this Entry
“Tether.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tether. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tether
1 of 2 noun
teth·er
ˈtet͟h-ər
: a line by which something (as an animal or a balloon) is fastened so as to limit its range
tether
2 of 2 verb
tethered; tethering
ˈtet͟h-(ə-)riŋ
: to fasten or hold with or as if with a tether
felt tethered to my desk
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