1
: carrying a load
a loaded freight train
: such as
a
: containing an explosive charge
a loaded warhead
: having bullets inside
a loaded handgun
b
of a camera
: having film inside
2
informal
: having a large amount of something
a store loaded with goods
a report loaded with errors
: such as
a
: having a large amount of money : wealthy
She left them a fortune and the family is now loaded.
b
: equipped with an abundance of features
a fully loaded car
c
: filled or topped with many things
a loaded baked potato
d
: featuring a great amount of top-level talent
a basketball team with a loaded roster
a loaded competition
3
chiefly US slang
: intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
especially
: drunk
They got loaded at the party.
… no matter how loaded he got, Billy did his drinking at home and always put the cans in the recycling bin … —
Stephen King
Stephen King 4
a
: carrying a hidden or secondary meaning that is capable of causing unease
Because "asylum" is a loaded term, it can draw attention to crucial issues facing vulnerable Americans, but it also tends to foreclose discussion of real solutions.—The New York Times
The New York Times"You tell me," Cora said. "Do you think I had a therapist?" Aaron's mouth fell open. That was a loaded question. Any answer would be wrong.—Parnell Hall
Parnell Hall
b
: weighted to favor a specific outcome
loaded dice
(figurative) … the dice of life are loaded in favor of first borns in ways they simply aren't for any siblings who come along later.—Jeffrey Kluger
Jeffrey Klugerloaded
2 of 2past tense and past participle of load entry 2
Examples of loaded in a Sentence
Adjective
He said he didn't know the gun was loaded.
the department stores were loaded with goods for the holiday shopping season
Recent Examples on the Web
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
After conversion, the total loaded weight dropped to around 240,000 pounds.
—David Blekhman, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Prosecutors say the night of the crime, Bell spotted Wright’s car, a yellow Plymouth and approached the car with two friends and his loaded gun.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 15 July 2025
Press junkets came with loaded questions about his background, early websites were devoted to hating Jar Jar, and there were misinterpretations about the character's intentions.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for loaded
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the hottest teams in baseball, and it's launched them to the top of the loaded American League East.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
After conversion, the total loaded weight dropped to around 240,000 pounds.
—David Blekhman, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Prosecutors say the night of the crime, Bell spotted Wright’s car, a yellow Plymouth and approached the car with two friends and his loaded gun.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 15 July 2025
Press junkets came with loaded questions about his background, early websites were devoted to hating Jar Jar, and there were misinterpretations about the character's intentions.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for loaded
Cite this Entry
“Loaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loaded. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
loaded
adjective
load·ed
ˈlōd-əd 
1
slang
: drunk entry 2 sense 1
2
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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