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
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026
Using different pairs of loaded dice, the result of each match in the World Cup can be simulated.
—Achim Zeileis, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
Hughes, who is the boyfriend of Jamonte's mother, was at the home at the time of the shooting, and officers found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a laser sight between two layers of clothing on the top shelf of a bedroom closet, according to a police report.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 26 May 2026
The suspect has a criminal record stretching back to 2015, police sources said, including two busts for possession of a loaded firearm.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for loaded
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Adjective
McCarron came to Minnesota with a pre-loaded dislike of Dallas from his time with the Predators, and getting past the Stars was a nice bonus.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026
Using different pairs of loaded dice, the result of each match in the World Cup can be simulated.
—Achim Zeileis, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
Hughes, who is the boyfriend of Jamonte's mother, was at the home at the time of the shooting, and officers found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a laser sight between two layers of clothing on the top shelf of a bedroom closet, according to a police report.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 26 May 2026
The suspect has a criminal record stretching back to 2015, police sources said, including two busts for possession of a loaded firearm.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for loaded
Cite this Entry
“Loaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loaded. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
loaded
adjective
load·ed
ˈlōd-əd 
1
slang
: drunk entry 2 sense 1
2
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
