loosen
Americanverb (used with object)
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to unfasten or undo, as a bond or fetter.
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to make less tight; slacken or relax.
to loosen one's grasp.
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to make less firmly fixed in place.
to loosen a tooth.
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to let loose or set free from bonds, restraint, or constraint.
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to make less close or compact in structure or arrangement.
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to make less dense or coherent.
to loosen the soil in a garden.
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to relax in strictness or severity, as restraint or discipline.
to loosen restrictions on trade.
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to relieve (the bowels) of their constipated condition.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to make or become less tight, fixed, etc
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(often foll by up) to make or become less firm, compact, or rigid
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(tr) to untie
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(tr) to let loose; set free
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(often foll by up) to make or become less strict, severe, etc
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(tr) to rid or relieve (the bowels) of constipation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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loosensimple
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loosenssimple
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have loosenedperfect
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has loosenedperfect
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am looseningprogressive
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are looseningprogressive
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is looseningprogressive
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have been looseningperfect progressive
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has been looseningperfect progressive
Past
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loosenedsimple
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had loosenedperfect
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was looseningprogressive
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were looseningprogressive
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had been looseningperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing loosen
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Loosen the cooked eggs from the sides of the pan using a rubber spatula, in order to allow the raw egg to cover the bottom of the pan.
From Salon • May 2, 2023
Loosen the sauce with some of the noodle cooking water, if needed.
From Washington Post • Apr. 10, 2022
Loosen regulations to allow for tiny homes and tiny-home communities.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2019
Loosen the edge of the omelet with a heatproof spatula, then carefully roll the omelet out onto a serving plate, enclosing the fish as you roll.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 25, 2017
“The king of preparation can’t prepare. I bet that is terrifying for you. Loosen up.”
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
