loosen
Americanverb (used with object)
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loosens,
present (3rd person singular)
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loosened,
past participle, past
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loosening
present participle
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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)
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loosens,
present (3rd person singular)
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loosened,
past participle, past
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loosening
present participle
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.
See Examples For:
Once everything is properly roasted, I add just enough broth to loosen the browned, sticky bits from the bottom of the pot.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
At least three other attempts to loosen smog check requirements for older cars have failed to make it to the governor’s desk since 2016.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
He doesn’t loosen up until, after another hour of bundling and packing, the last of the boxes is sealed up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
That unexpected difference may help loosen established emotional patterns and make it easier for the mind to replace old, painful responses with new ones.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
The deck of the Astrea was alive with action—men running to secure battle lanterns—to loosen the guns.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
When the structure loosens and opens, the genes become easier for the cell to activate.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026
“A flurry of tankers have taken the chance to exit the gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran loosens its grip on the key waterway under conditions stipulated under the agreement,” the analysts add.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
The move loosens rules meant to restrict hydroflourocarbons, a class of climate-damaging chemicals used in cooling equipment.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
And when you whisk it into something, especially with a little acid, it loosens, lightens, turns almost plush.
From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2026
He laughs, and the sound loosens something behind my ribs.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
As Pruett aged, her grip on reality loosened.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
The impact churned up and loosened the material around the crater, leaving it less dense and less able to hold onto heat after sunset.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
He kept his emotions deliberately in check and, even though he lost the third set, never loosened his grip on the match.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
It also loosened fuel-quality standards to allow more supplies from second-tier, Soviet-built refineries and banned diesel exports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Mr. Espinosa is leaned way back in his chair, his tie loosened, looking very un-principal-like and almost as tired as I feel.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Raman also has clashed with Bass over loosening the rules imposed on Airbnb and other short-term rental companies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The specific loosening that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wants is to count borrowing capacity at the Fed’s discount window toward meeting bank liquidity coverage rules.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
In the United States, however, a panel recommended loosening restrictions on a range of peptides last month.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
At the same time, Fannie Mae is loosening some insurance requirements for condos that lenders had said were too burdensome.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Z picked at the wooden door frame, loosening a splinter.
From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech
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.
