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
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
In addition to the murder charge, she is accused of assault with a firearm, first degree residential burglary and carrying a loaded firearm in public.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
He was arrested in September during an ICE operation, when authorities found a loaded handgun in his vehicle and three more firearms at his home.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Effective narrative intelligence requires pre-loaded pivots.
—Harrison Monarth, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loaded
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Adjective
Affordability is a loaded term in real estate, especially in expensive areas like San Diego, because what might be good for higher-income buyers could seem like another universe to thousands of people.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
In addition to the murder charge, she is accused of assault with a firearm, first degree residential burglary and carrying a loaded firearm in public.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
He was arrested in September during an ICE operation, when authorities found a loaded handgun in his vehicle and three more firearms at his home.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Effective narrative intelligence requires pre-loaded pivots.
—Harrison Monarth, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 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
