WordGarden.ioconstrict
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kənstrˈɪkt/
US
- /kənˈstrɪkt/
Meanings
Verb
to squeeze or tighten something so it becomes narrower
to limit freedom, movement, growth, or development
to contract or make a body passage, vessel, muscle, or pupil narrower
More meaningsFewer meanings
to coil around prey and squeeze it
Beyond the definition
Imagine a snake squeezing its prey – that's what this word is about. It means to make something tighter or narrower, so less can pass through. Cold weather can make blood vessels tighten, which can make you shiver. Or strict rules can limit someone's freedom of expression. Think of anything being squeezed or held back – that's "constrict" at work.
Constrict isn't always physical. It can also describe emotional or life limits. Someone who feels anxious might feel a tightness in their chest, like a band around it. A rigid mindset can constrict your ability to see new ideas. In stories, you might read about characters whose lives are constricted by poverty or social pressure.
To constrict means to make something narrower or tighter; to squeeze or compress. It often refers to physical limitations – like a pipe constricting the flow of water, or muscles constricting blood vessels. "The icy wind caused his airways to constrict, making it hard to breathe."
However, "constrict" isn't limited to the physical world. It can also describe emotional, mental, or even societal restrictions. A controlling relationship might constrict a person's independence, while strict laws could constrict artistic expression. "The oppressive regime constricted freedom of speech and assembly."
Historically, constriction has been important in understanding how our bodies work – like the constriction and dilation of pupils responding to light. In medicine, it refers to the narrowing of blood vessels or airways. But beyond science, "constrict" speaks to any force that limits growth, movement, or freedom. A writer might describe a character feeling constricted by their past, unable to move forward.
So whether you're talking about plumbing, physiology, or personal limitations, to constrict is to squeeze, narrow, and ultimately limit something's potential for expansion or flow.
Examples
- 1
Body response
In cold weather, the blood vessels near your skin constrict to conserve heat.
- 2
Tight clothing
The scarf was so tight that it started to constrict her breathing.
- 3
Panic reaction
Panic can constrict your throat and make even a short sentence hard to say.
- 4
Housing market
Higher borrowing costs have constricted the housing market.
- Patternconstrict a market
make activity in it more limited
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Personal freedom
She felt constricted by the office's formal dress code and rigid routines.
- Patternfeel constricted by + rule/situation
feel limited and not free
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- constrictverb
Forms
- constrictedpast tenseverb
- constricting-ing formverb
- constrictsverb