loaded

1 of 2

adjective

load·​ed ˈlō-dəd How to pronounce loaded (audio)
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
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
"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
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

loaded

2 of 2

past 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
Adjective
According to police, the two men had struggled over the gun and a loaded magazine fell out. Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2023 The beef patty can be swapped for chicken, making a second loaded nacho entrée. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 25 Oct. 2023 Their opponent was clearly more skilled, more loaded, just plain better. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023 The terms have taken on loaded political meaning, sparking debate and reflecting divisions. Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023 That term is a loaded one in Hebrew parlance, harking back to the sorting of prisoners at Nazi concentration camps. Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023 New details that came to light this week have raised questions about whether commercial airline pilots are allowed to carry loaded guns aboard a flight, even while regular passengers are not. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2023 The loaded hash browns are topped with cheddar queso, hints of jalapeño and a bacon crumble. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023 With so much pressure on the Clippers to emerge from a loaded Western Conference and earn a first NBA Finals appearance, rival scouts believe there is a gap between their level of talent and that of reigning champion Denver, Phoenix and the Lakers. Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loaded.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of loaded was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near loaded

Cite this Entry

“Loaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loaded. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

loaded

adjective
load·​ed ˈlōd-əd How to pronounce loaded (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on loaded

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