loosen

American  

[loo-suhn] / ˈlu sən /

verb (used with object)

1. to unfasten or undo, as a bond or fetter.

2. to make less tight; slacken or relax.

   to loosen one's grasp.

3. to make less firmly fixed in place.

   to loosen a tooth.

4. to let loose or set free from bonds, restraint, or constraint.

5. to make less close or compact in structure or arrangement.

6. to make less dense or coherent.

   to loosen the soil in a garden.

7. to relax in strictness or severity, as restraint or discipline.

   to loosen restrictions on trade.

8. to relieve (the bowels) of their constipated condition.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become loose or looser (sometimes followed byup ).

   His hold loosened. Your shoes will loosen up with wear.

loosen British  

/ ˈluːsən /

verb

1. to make or become less tight, fixed, etc

2. (often foll by up) to make or become less firm, compact, or rigid

3. (tr) to untie

4. (tr) to let loose; set free

5. (often foll by up) to make or become less strict, severe, etc

6. (tr) to rid or relieve (the bowels) of constipation

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Other Word Forms

• loosener noun

Etymology

Origin of loosen

First recorded in 1350–1400, loosen is from the Middle English word loosnen. See loose, -en ¹

Explanation

When you loosen something, you make it less tight. A ballerina, for example, might loosen her tightly coiled hair after dance practice. You might need to loosen your belt after eating a huge meal, or loosen your collar and tie after a long day at work. Things sometimes also loosen on their own, like when a dog's collar loosens gradually until she can slip right out of it to chase a squirrel. There is also a figurative way to loosen things, making them less strict, like when a community loosens certain rules or laws.

Example Sentences

That bill, if enacted into law, would give the city the ability to loosen development restrictions on the stadium property for a team owner willing to call the team the Anaheim Angels.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Robinhood stock was up 9% in mid-Wednesday trading—having climbed over 10% the previous session—following the SEC’s Tuesday decision to loosen margin borrowing rules for day traders.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

But after Argentine MPs this week passed government reforms to loosen the protection of glaciers, De Valle fears her vineyard's water supply is under threat.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

To accommodate the massive amounts of cash these companies will need to raise, bankers are trying to change the rules around IPO fundraising by asking major index providers to loosen their rules for entry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

The domovoi howled with pain and clawed at Sigurd’s hand, but it did nothing to loosen the Varangian’s hold.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• alleviate
• break up
• ease
• loose
• relax
• slacken
• undo
• unlock
• unscrew
• untie