loosen
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.
to become loose or looser (sometimes followed by up): His hold loosened. Your shoes will loosen up with wear.
Origin of loosen
1Other words from loosen
- loos·en·er, noun
Words that may be confused with loosen
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use loosen in a sentence
As their grip loosens, the island, and particularly its capital city, is morphing into a fashionable, gorgeous hotbed of tourism.
He soon loosens his grip on my hand and bolts toward the stage.
Medical panel loosens guidelines about when people over 60 should be treated for high blood pressure.
Up to a Point: 2013 in Review and Predictions for 2014 | P. J. O’Rourke | January 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOne photo shows the pair standing right behind Mitchell, arms on hips, watching intently as she loosens up.
The Myth of Jackie Mitchell, the Girl Who Struck Out Ruth and Gehrig | Adam Doster | May 18, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTMy Remarkable Journeyby Larry King The legend of television loosens the suspenders in his new tell-all.
See that no one throws down the gangway or loosens the ropes till the order is given.
The Norsemen in the West | R.M. BallantyneIf your axe handle is dry and the head loosens, soak it over night and the wood will swell and tighten the head.
The Book of Camp-Lore and Woodcraft | Dan BeardMan cuts up and loosens the soil with his hoe; woman follows after, strewing the seed between the clods.
Elements of Folk Psychology | Wilhelm WundtA fresh gust of wind loosens its hold, and it is blown in circling eddies to the earth.
The Portland Sketch Book | VariousThe guillotine loosens stronger bonds, and the whisper of the spy is more efficacious than the law of divorce.
Sir Jasper Carew | Charles James Lever
British Dictionary definitions for loosen
/ (ˈluːsən) /
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
Origin of loosen
1Derived forms of loosen
- loosener, noun
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
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