loosen

[loo-suh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR loosen ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to unfasten or undo, as a bond or fetter.

to make less tight; slacken or relax: to loosen one's grasp.

to make less firmly fixed in place: to loosen a tooth.

to let loose or set free from bonds, restraint, or constraint.

to make less close or compact in structure or arrangement.

to make less dense or coherent: to loosen the soil in a garden.

to relax in strictness or severity, as restraint or discipline: to loosen restrictions on trade.

to relieve (the bowels) of their constipated condition.

verb (used without object)

to become loose or looser (sometimes followed by up): His hold loosened. Your shoes will loosen up with wear.

Origin of loosen

First recorded in 1350–1400, loosen is from the Middle English word loosnen. See loose, -en¹

Related formsloos·en·er, noun

Can be confusedloose loosen lose loss

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for loosen

slacken, relax, ease, loose, undo, unlock, untie, alleviate, unscrew, unloose, extricate, unclasp, unfasten, disconnect, unbuckle, separate, disjoin, deliver, free, discharge

Examples from the Web for loosen

Contemporary Examples of loosen

Two years later, he had released all Soviet dissidents from prison and was beginning to loosen the reins on Soviet bloc countries.
How the Fall of the Berlin Wall Radicalized Putin
Masha Gessen
November 9, 2014
Not even the knowledge gleaned from all the books in the world can loosen the grasp of human sadness.
How Depression Could Save Your Life
Nick Romeo
March 4, 2014
Add a dash of milk to loosen, although you want the mixture thick.
Cat Cora’s Valentine’s Day Menu for Single People
Cat Cora
February 13, 2014
Past attempts to loosen the grip of taxi cartels have been thwarted by the industry.
Uber and Its Enemies
Jim Epstein
February 10, 2014
Spurred by this success, Austin and Benedetto plan to loosen control over the guest list even more for future events.
A Most Illegal Adventure with New York City’s Wildest Underground Event Planners
Nina Strochlic
December 16, 2013

Historical Examples of loosen

My arms have starved for you so—do you think they're going to loosen now?
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
He will prolong your life and loosen every button on your waistcoat.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
Then he sought to loosen the rings that held the coat of mail.
Opera Stories from Wagner
Florence Akin
Do not use a spoon, as that will not loosen the grains sufficiently.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
He tried to loosen his neck-band; it seemed to be choking him.
The Gentleman From Indiana
Booth Tarkington

British Dictionary definitions for loosen

loosen

verb

to make or become less tight, fixed, etc

(often foll by up) to make or become less firm, compact, or rigid

(tr) to untie

(tr) to let loose; set free

(often foll by up) to make or become less strict, severe, etc

(tr) to rid or relieve (the bowels) of constipation

Derived Formsloosener, noun

Word Origin for loosen

C14: from loose

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for loosen

late 14c., losnen, later lousen (early 15c.), from loose (v.) + -en (1). Related: Loosened; loosening.