tied down

Meanings

1. 1adjectiveafter a verb

   Restricted by duties or obligations so that you cannot freely do what you want or go where you like.

   Grammar: Used after be, feel or get: I feel tied down; often followed by to or by.

   Patterns

   • be tied down to something
   • be tied down by something
   • feel tied down
   • get tied down

   She did not want to feel tied down by a long mortgage.

   After the baby arrived, they were tied down at home most evenings.

   He avoids getting tied down to one job for too long.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Fastened firmly in place with rope or cord so that it cannot move or blow away.

   Grammar: Describes a physical object, often after be or before a noun: a tied-down tarp.

   Patterns

   • be tied down with something
   • be tied down to something

   Make sure the canoe is tied down before the storm hits.

   The tied-down cargo did not shift during the long drive.

   Everything on the roof rack was tied down with strong straps.

Word forms

Common combinations

feel tied down

Many young travelers feel tied down by a regular schedule.

tied down by children

She is tied down by children and cannot take the trip.

tied down to a desk

He hated being tied down to a desk all day.

get tied down

I don't want to get tied down this early in my career.

firmly tied down

The tent was firmly tied down against the wind.

Synonyms and how they differ

restricted

Restricted is more neutral and general, while tied down stresses a feeling of being held by responsibilities.

confined

Confined suggests being kept in a small space or situation, whereas tied down is about duties or commitments.

committed

Committed can be positive and willing, while tied down often sounds like a burden.

fastened

Fastened only fits the physical meaning and does not carry the sense of lost freedom.

Opposites

Word family

tie verb

to fasten with cord or rope

tie down phrasal verb

to fasten firmly, or to limit someone's freedom

tie-down noun

a strap or rope used to hold something in place

tie-in noun

a connection or related product

Commonly confused: tied down or tied up?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tied down”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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