Synonyms

let loose

American

[let loos] / ˈlɛt ˈlus /

idiom

past and past participle

let loose,

present participle

letting loose

to set free; release;

They let the captured mouse loose in a field.
to allow to act freely (often followed byon ).

I have my medical students practice putting IVs in me before I let them loose on patients.
to act in a relaxed or uninhibited way.

It took some time to talk my dad into letting loose and playing a few games with the grandkids.
I can be serious when I need to be, but sometimes I just need to let loose and have fun.
to utter or issue forcefully and suddenly (sometimes followed bywith ).

I let loose a shriek and made a dive for the door.
He let loose with a flurry of angry posts on the website.
to give way; yield.

The guardrail let loose and we very nearly plunged over the edge.

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.

She sang open-throated declarations, recited broken poetic verses, scatted with the authority of a jazz singer, moaned with bluesy intent, and occasionally let loose an unbridled shriek or giggle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

"We saw this happen in 2019 when the invasive species regulation came in and there was a spike in animals such as raccoons and tanukis coming into us or even being let loose."

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

What was it like to really let loose like that?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

But hear us out: The Matic is the best robot vacuum we’ve ever let loose on our filthy floors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 23, 2025

But for Kenzi and Simeon, this was where they could let loose.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

let loose

idiom

past and past participle

present participle

Example Sentences

Related Words