loosely

adverb

loose·​ly ˈlüs-lē 

: in a loose manner

loosely attached

a collection of loosely connected stories

His shoes are set tidily together in a corner with his socks draped loosely across them.

—Felix Carroll

Texting freed a generation from the strictures and inconvenience (and awkwardness) of phone calls, while allowing people to be more loosely and constantly connected.

—Jenna Wortham

The novel is loosely based on the life of Georgia O'Keeffe.

Loosely translated from Japanese, umami means delicious or yummy.

—N. Seppa

Examples of loosely in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown on top and the filling bubbles slightly, 55 to 65 minutes (if the top is browning too quickly, tent the top loosely with foil). — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Of the online personalities loosely associated with Rogan’s milieu, Bet-David’s backstory is the most colorful. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 4 Nov. 2026

We’re quickly singled out for not being regulars and handed a Sharpie and clipboard to add to a queue that Nazz only loosely followed. — Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

The show loosely groups Ponti’s furniture according to different time periods. — Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing loosely

• broadly/loosely define
• loosely base on

Rhymes for loosely

• diffusely
• obtusely
• profusely