loosened; loosening
ˈlü-sᵊn-iŋ 
ˈlüs-niŋ
1
: to release from restraint
2
: to make looser
loosened his tie
loosen a screw
3
: to relieve (the bowels) of constipation
4
: to cause or permit to become less strict
—often used with up
loosened the rules
: to become loose or looser
Examples of loosen in a Sentence
He used a spade to loosen the soil.
She loosened the cake from the sides of the pan.
After eating so much I had to loosen my belt.
When the meeting was over he loosened his tie.
One of the screws had loosened a bit and had to be tightened.
Each generation seems to loosen the established standards of behavior.
Standards of behavior seem to be loosening everywhere.
Recent Examples on the Web
Systems built on power, fear, and control are reacting because their grip is beginning to loosen.
—
Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Grey's Anatomy's vice-like grip on the medical drama genre is loosening with The Pitt, a thrilling and impeccably researched new Max series set in a Pittsburgh emergency room.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Submerge the greens in a large bowl of water and swish them around with your hands to loosen any dirt or grit on the leaves.
—Vicky Hallett, NPR, 10 Apr. 2025
The era of mass transferring in college football, fueled by name, image and likeness deals and loosened restrictions on when a player can switch schools, has changed how NFL teams evaluate players who hope to be drafted.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Grey's Anatomy's vice-like grip on the medical drama genre is loosening with The Pitt, a thrilling and impeccably researched new Max series set in a Pittsburgh emergency room.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Submerge the greens in a large bowl of water and swish them around with your hands to loosen any dirt or grit on the leaves.
—Vicky Hallett, NPR, 10 Apr. 2025
The era of mass transferring in college football, fueled by name, image and likeness deals and loosened restrictions on when a player can switch schools, has changed how NFL teams evaluate players who hope to be drafted.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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