noose
Americannoun
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nooses
plural
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a loop with a running knot, as in a snare, lasso, or hangman's halter, that tightens as the rope is pulled.
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a tie or bond; snare.
verb (used with object)
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nooses,
present (3rd person singular)
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noosed,
past participle, past
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noosing
present participle
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to secure by or as by a noose.
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to make a noose with or in (a rope or the like).
noun
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a loop in the end of a rope or cord, such as a lasso, snare, or hangman's halter, usually tied with a slipknot
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something that restrains, binds, or traps
-
to bring about one's own downfall
verb
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to secure or catch in or as if in a noose
-
to make a noose of or in
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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noosesimple
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noosessimple
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have noosedperfect
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has noosedperfect
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am noosingprogressive
-
are noosingprogressive
-
is noosingprogressive
-
have been noosingperfect progressive
-
has been noosingperfect progressive
Past
-
noosedsimple
-
had noosedperfect
-
was noosingprogressive
-
were noosingprogressive
-
had been noosingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of noose
1400–50; late Middle English nose < ?
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.
See Examples For:
By handing Banks a length of rope instead, and standing by as she prettily ties it into a noose, they invite the audience to conclude that the many sins of “Top Model” weren’t merely systemic.
From Salon ● Feb. 20, 2026
The reader feels the noose tighten and shares Ms. Chang’s distress as it becomes evident after 2018 that she can no longer visit her home country—or her mother’s deathbed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026
If rates keep climbing, the fiscal noose might tighten.
From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026
"It's been like a noose around our neck, ever since the route was chosen," says Ms Thacker, who has lived in her house for 38 years.
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2025
Lord Fredrick pulled at his shirt collar as if it had tightened like a noose.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
He had pointed to the enclaves where one group of human beings was walled off from another group, where the green lines between countries doubled back on themselves and looped into zeros, into nooses.
From New York Times ● Nov. 3, 2022
In it, singer Yawar Abdal imagines a Kashmir where people, blindfolded and with nooses around their necks, are liberated amid chants of “All shall be free.”
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 4, 2022
I think that when people think racism, they think of nooses and white supremacists groups.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2021
Critics allege the industry has serious safety problems, with dangers posed by nooses, hair dryers and poor handling by groomers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2021
The wand or spring-stick, crosspiece, and nooses as before, but instead of the simple catch, use a complete bow, with both ends stuck in the ground.
You would see them trundle up and down Spinner's Walk trailing wires and lights, their gaze rolling towards the hospital gates on Clarence Road, their necks noosed by camera straps.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 19, 2014
You would see them trundle up and down Spinner’s Walk trailing wires and lights, their gaze rolling toward the hospital gates on Clarence Road, their necks noosed by camera straps.
From New York Times ● Sep. 19, 2014
The astonished fishermen noosed the two animals, hauled them aboard, took them ashore.
From Time Magazine Archive
I willed them to move, but my conscience noosed around my ankles and pulled down hard.
From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys
Well, we noosed one after a whole lot of chasing in a lagoon, and kept him four or five weeks, but he wouldn't eat, and the boys all gave us the laugh.
From Careers of Danger and Daring by Cleveland Moffett
Mitchum is snagging coconuts and noosing turtles; Deborah is roasting breadfruit and thatching a sail.
From Time Magazine Archive
Before the trail was quite completed, it yielded one of the most exciting hunts of our trip—the noosing of a giant bushmaster—the most deadly serpent of the tropics.
From Jungle Peace by William Beebe
A temporary substitute for a curb is made by noosing a string, and putting the noose round the horse's lower jaw.
From The Art of Travel Shifts and Contrivances Available in Wild Countries by Sir Francis Galton
He said, and noosing a strong galley-rope To an huge column, led the cord around The spacious dome, suspended so aloft 540 That none with quiv’ring feet might reach the floor.
From The Odyssey of Homer by William Cowper
Carefully climbing on, I set to work, and succeeded in noosing four of each species.
From The Wanderers Adventures in the Wilds of Trinidad and Orinoco by Perat
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