tether

American  

[teth-er] / ˈtɛð ər /

noun

1. a rope, chain, or the like, by which an animal is fastened to a fixed object so as to limit its range of movement.

2. the utmost length to which one can go in action; the utmost extent or limit of ability or resources.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fasten or confine with or as if with a tether.

2. Digital Technology. to use (an electronic device, usually a smartphone or tablet) to enable a wireless internet connection on another nearby device, often a laptop.

   There's no Wi-Fi, so I'll have to tether my phone to my laptop.

verb (used without object)

1. Digital Technology. to use an electronic device to enable a wireless internet connection on another device.

idioms

1. at the end of one's tether, at the end of one's resources, patience, or strength.

tether British  

/ ˈtɛðə /

noun

1. a restricting rope, chain, etc, by which an animal is tied to a particular spot

2. the range of one's endurance, etc

3. distressed or exasperated to the limit of one's endurance

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verb

1. (tr) to tie or limit with or as if with a tether

tether More Idioms  

1. see end of one's rope (tether).

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Other Word Forms

• untethering adjective

Etymology

Origin of tether

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun); compare Old Norse tjōthr, Dutch tuier

Explanation

Both a verb and a noun, tether keeps things tied together, or is the tie itself. Remember, when you tether that chair to those balloons, use a strong tether. You don't want to drop from the sky because you tied them together using a cheap piece of rope. Think of the childhood game tether-ball. The ball is tethered to a pole by a tether. Tether usually refers to a rope or a chain, but it can also refer to an invisible bond or link. For example, the Internet can serve as a tether that links you to your pen pal in Germany. The love between a mother and her child keeps them tethered to each other for a lifetime. And whenever astronauts go for jaunts outside the space station, they tether themselves to the station using wires and a hook.

Example Sentences

With more than 11 million users, Nobitex is the primary gateway for Iranian citizens to swap rials for tether, which they can convert into other currencies abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

They have sleeping bags that tether to the wall to keep them from floating around the capsule.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Investigators found Hexa used the account to move about $500 million worth of the stablecoin tether over several months since 2024 to what investigators referred to as “Entity A.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Crunch, as a sensation, sometimes works like a gentle tether back to appetite.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2026

He didn’t bother to tether her to a tree.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby

Related Words

• cord
• harness
• leash
• rope
• shackle