1 A2 neutral
To physically fasten something to a fixed object using rope, string, or a similar material.
"He tied his bicycle to the fence outside the shop."
inseparable
tie to
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To fasten something to a fixed point with a rope or tie; or to connect or make something dependent on something else.
In plain English
To attach something to something else using rope or string, or to make one thing depend on another.
What does "tie to" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To make something dependent on or connected to a particular condition, factor, or outcome.
"Their annual bonus is tied directly to the company's overall profit."
“
Pay rises tied to performance have become increasingly common in the public sector.
— The Guardian, Economics section, representative usage circa 2018–2022
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To restrict someone so that they are committed to a place, person, or situation.
"She felt tied to her hometown because of her elderly parents."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fasten something to a fixed point using rope or string — transparent.
Actually means
To attach something to something else using rope or string, or to make one thing depend on another.
Usage tip
Both the literal and figurative senses are very common. The figurative sense ('tied to a particular condition or outcome') is frequently used in business, economics, and everyday discussion of dependencies and constraints. The passive form 'tied to' is particularly common.
Words that pair with "tie to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
post tree condition outcome performance location
How to conjugate "tie to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tie to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ties to
he/she/it
Past simple
tied to
yesterday
Past participle
tied to
have + pp
-ing form
tiing to
continuous
Hear "tie to" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "tie to" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "tie to"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
attach to bind to connect to fasten to link to tether to
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.