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
The fine dining restaurant, La Finca, holds a Michelin star, even as veteran chef Fernando Arjona and his team have loosened things up, moving away from a long tasting menu toward a relaxed a la carte approach.
—
Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Its two-step function—first delivering a light mist to loosen mucus, followed by gentle suction—aims to make nasal clearing more efficient and less disruptive.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to unprecedented levels.
—Fu Ting, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Run a knife around edges of baking dish to loosen the egg mixture; cut into 12 even portions (about 2 1/2 x 3 inches each).
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
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Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Its two-step function—first delivering a light mist to loosen mucus, followed by gentle suction—aims to make nasal clearing more efficient and less disruptive.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to unprecedented levels.
—Fu Ting, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025
Run a knife around edges of baking dish to loosen the egg mixture; cut into 12 even portions (about 2 1/2 x 3 inches each).
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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