in the loop

Idioms  

1. Provided with information and included in a decision-making process. For example, She's new to the board, but be sure to keep her in the loop. This expression uses loop in the sense of “a circle of individuals among whom information or responsibility circulates.” The antonym out of the loop, meaning “left out of such a circle,” dates from the same period. For example, The chairman was consistently leaving Chris out of the loop. [1970s]

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Example Sentences

As AI absorbs routine execution, the humans left in the loop must be more capable.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Tech leaders have portrayed the role of human software engineers as a human in the loop, overseeing and verifying AI agents that do the work of coders.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

The 51-year-old still regularly listens to some podcasts that pivoted to video, including the paranormal-comedy show “Let’s Get Haunted,” which she says is doing a good job keeping listeners in the loop.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The input data must be trusted, the AI tools must be transparent, and a human needs to be in the loop.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Instead, it’s Papi’s van, looking especially shabby in the loop.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina