[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/clench/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / clench

# clench

verb (clench, clenches, clenched, clenching)

«clench» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To clench your fists or teeth means to press them tightly together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#m1)
2. To clench something means to hold it very tightly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories clenched fists or a clenched jaw show that a character is angry, scared, in pain or trying hard not to cry. In everyday life people clench their teeth when they are tense; at the dentist you may be told to unclench. In PE you might clench your muscles to hold a position. Phrases: «clench your fists», «clench your teeth», «through clenched teeth».

### Examples

- He clenched his fists in anger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x1)
- She clenched her teeth and kept going. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x2)
- «I am fine,» he said through clenched teeth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x3)
- Try not to clench your jaw when you are worried. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x4)
- The baby clenched my finger in her tiny hand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x5)
- Unclench your hands and take a deep breath. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x6)
- Tom clenched the rope as he climbed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x7)
- My stomach clenched with fear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x8)
- Ugly monkeys sat high in the branches and clenched their teeth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/#x9)

### Note

Regular verb: clenched, clenching. «Clench» is usually for fists, teeth, jaw; «clutch» or «grip» is for holding objects. Clenching your teeth a lot, even in sleep, can hurt your jaw — tell an adult if your jaw aches.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «clench» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clench/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«clench» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clench.html) on Mova free.