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
Trump officials view Greenland’s underground riches as a way to loosen China’s stranglehold over the rare-earth metals that are critical for everything from fighter jets and lasers to electric vehicles and MRI scanners.
—
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
Several states have loosened school vaccine requirements since 2020, and vaccine rates have dropped.
—Amy Maxmen, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The National Guard in blue states began to defect after being federalized by the president, loosening his hold on the military.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
One of their functions is to soften clothes, and in the case of carpets, both types can help loosen stubborn pet hair.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
Several states have loosened school vaccine requirements since 2020, and vaccine rates have dropped.
—Amy Maxmen, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The National Guard in blue states began to defect after being federalized by the president, loosening his hold on the military.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
One of their functions is to soften clothes, and in the case of carpets, both types can help loosen stubborn pet hair.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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