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
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.
Loosely organized groups of anti-ICE activists have been using encrypted messaging app Signal to flag immigration sweeps and organize spontaneous demonstrations against them.
From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026
Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s “Vineland,” the film mostly borrows vibes: the struggle of how to move forward when it feels your path has run its course.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2025
Loosely based on the human brain, neural networks are machine-learning models comprising many interconnected layers of nodes, or neurons, that process data.
From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2024
Loosely based on the 2014 novel by Martin Amis, its focus on the banality of evil poses difficult questions about how seemingly ordinary people can be involved in committing such evil acts.
From BBC • Dec. 24, 2023
“Sorry, poppa! I’ve been meaning to tell you. There’s a little spell on your almanac. In Romanian it’s called . . . well, in Romanian, it’s complicated. Loosely translated, it’s the other-sock spell.”
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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.
