loosely
Americanadverb
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in a way that is not secure, tight, or restrained.
Cover the chicken loosely with foil so the spices don't burn.
After filling up, the driver loosely closed the gas cap, which subsequently fell off as they headed down the highway.
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in a way that is not firm, rigid, or taut.
Roll the cut strip of fabric loosely, with the pattern side in.
A chain, secured at the top and bottom but hanging loosely against the rock, assists with the final steep ascent.
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in a way that is relaxed or limber.
Bend forward with your head and arms hanging down loosely.
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(of a structure or arrangement) in a way that is not compact and allows space between parts or components.
The flour should be loosely packed and fluffy, rather than tamped into a solid block.
The superficial fat layer is made up of tightly packed fat cells, whereas in the deeper layers the cells are more loosely arranged.
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in a way that is not strict or precise.
Romania was made famous in the West by the legend of Dracula, based loosely on Vlad the Impaler.
The term is often used rather loosely to refer to any group with identifiable shared characteristics.
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in a way that has few restraints and allows for freedom of independent action.
The cooperative buys organic soybeans from a loosely organized group of independent Michigan growers, and resells the beans to customers in Japan and elsewhere.
Other Word Forms
- overloosely adverb
Etymology
Origin of loosely
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.
Chop them loosely and fold them in at the end.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026
In its primordial form, liberalism was a political belief that the building block of society is the individual—an idea tethered loosely to the Christian notion that every single human being contains a divine spark.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
The film also loosely draws on real South Asian flashpoints - from Pakistan's 'Operation Lyari' to India's demonetisation - blending geopolitics into its storyline.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
On an only loosely related note, Alphabet’s Waymo operates robo-taxis in 10 markets, with plans for 22 more.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
The loosely packed soil on the Fowl estate was very well aerated, and a lot of that air had entered Mulch’s tubes along with the soil and minerals.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
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.
