loosen
Americanverb (used with object)
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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)
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.
When it was time for our archery lesson, Fadel conducted one last somatic exercise to loosen us up.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026
As the pH shifts, the molecular bonds holding the tissue rigid begin to loosen.
From Science Daily • May 28, 2026
Reliving those feelings as an adult allowed their grip to loosen, Dan explained.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Once everything had collapsed into a jammy, fragrant base, I added a splash of water and a little bouillon to loosen the sauce into something stew-adjacent before cracking eggs directly into the skillet.
From Salon • May 12, 2026
I didn’t fully let my baby go, but I did have to loosen my grip significantly.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
