loosen

verb

loos·en | \ ˈlü-sᵊn

loosened; loosening\ ˈlüs-niŋ

, ˈlü-sᵊn-iŋ \

Definition of loosen

transitive verb

1 : to release from restraint

2 : to make looser loosened his tie loosen a screw

3 : to relieve (the bowels) of constipation

4 : to cause or permit to become less strict —often used with up loosened the rules

intransitive verb

: to become loose or looser

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about loosen

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Synonyms & Antonyms for loosen

Synonyms

ease, relax, slack, slacken

Antonyms

strain, stretch, tense, tension, tighten

Examples of loosen in a Sentence

He used a spade to loosen the soil. She loosened the cake from the sides of the pan. After eating so much I had to loosen my belt. When the meeting was over he loosened his tie. One of the screws had loosened a bit and had to be tightened. Each generation seems to loosen the established standards of behavior. Standards of behavior seem to be loosening everywhere.

Recent Examples on the Web

To be fair, his ERA figures are loosened by a high BABIP and a low strand rate. — Chris Wassel, USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire, "San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers odds, predictions, picks and best bets," 6 Sep. 2019 Cannabis, on the other hand, loosens us up and can give a person of any age a sense of general well-being. — Mary Schumacher, chicagotribune.com, "Science: Medical marijuana is the safer option for seniors," 28 Aug. 2019 Local news media said the group organized to show support for Bolsonaro’s efforts to loosen environmental regulations. — Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, "Pressure, prayers and protests: Amazon fires push Brazil to the forefront of international conversations," 22 Aug. 2019 Run popsicles under warm water to loosen them from the molds before serving. MORE RECIPE IDEAS Want more tips like these? — NBC News, "Craving a frozen dessert? Whip up these 4-ingredient strawberry lemonade popsicles in minutes," 17 Aug. 2019 Apply the degreaser, run the stain under warm or hot water, and scrub the stain between your hands, rubbing the fabric against itself so the friction loosens it. — Jura Koncius, courant.com, "Stains are a summer staple. Here’s how to defeat them," 8 Aug. 2019 If the roots are crowded, take the time to unwind and loosen them. — oregonlive.com, "Thinking of planting strawberries in straw bales? Ask an Expert," 27 July 2019 One wonders whether a few era-deferential tokes might have loosened them up a bit. — Robert Abele, Detroit Free Press, "Doc fondly recalls Laurel Canyon music scene," 27 June 2019 And newly loosened regulations in Japan have encouraged researchers to seek approval for experiments to boost the survival of human cells in the developing embryos of rodents and pigs. — Kelly Servick, Science | AAAS, "Embryo experiments take ‘baby steps’ toward growing human organs in livestock," 26 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loosen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for loosen

loosen

verb

English Language Learners Definition of loosen

: to make (something) less tight or firm : to make (something) loose or looser

: to become less tight or firm : to become loose or looser

: to become or to cause (something) to become less strict

See the full definition for loosen in the English Language Learners Dictionary

loosen

verb

loos·en | \ ˈlü-sᵊn

loosened; loosening

Kids Definition of loosen

: to make or become less tight or firmly fixed Can you loosen this screw? His grip loosened.

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loosen

Definition of loosen

Synonyms & Antonyms for loosen

Examples of loosen in a Sentence

First Known Use of loosen

English Language Learners Definition of loosen

Kids Definition of loosen

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