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
Yet a close look and careful listen reveal a more emphatic message, that of a market repositioning for a reacceleration of the economy, following the playbook that’s often cracked open in an early-cycle phase when the Federal Reserve is loosening policy.
—
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
The steam created from the heated lemon water loosens the debris, and the lemon creates a clean, fresh scent throughout.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
The bill would also nullify portions of a 2025 federal regulation that loosened limits on the actuarial value of exchange plans and altered how subsidies are calculated, effectively reshaping how generous plans can be and how federal support is determined.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
At that point, ligaments connecting her skull and spine were loosened, a condition called craniocervical instability (CCI).
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
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Michael Santoli, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
The steam created from the heated lemon water loosens the debris, and the lemon creates a clean, fresh scent throughout.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
The bill would also nullify portions of a 2025 federal regulation that loosened limits on the actuarial value of exchange plans and altered how subsidies are calculated, effectively reshaping how generous plans can be and how federal support is determined.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
At that point, ligaments connecting her skull and spine were loosened, a condition called craniocervical instability (CCI).
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 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 8 Dec. 2025.
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