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
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slashed crash reporting requirements and loosened safety requirements for test vehicles, giving the auto industry more room to experiment, though whether that's at the expense of public safety remains to be seen.
—
Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
For the first time this series, the Avalanche were scrambling, loosening up offensively, which invariably loosened things up defensively.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
While such behavior isn't widespread, Howell pointed out that growing economic pressures and a shift toward more public expressions of need have loosened old boundaries.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
President Donald Trump and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin have announced their intent to reconsider dozens of current regulations in an effort to loosen standards originally imposed to protect the environment and public health.
—Stan Meiburg, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
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Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
For the first time this series, the Avalanche were scrambling, loosening up offensively, which invariably loosened things up defensively.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
While such behavior isn't widespread, Howell pointed out that growing economic pressures and a shift toward more public expressions of need have loosened old boundaries.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
President Donald Trump and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin have announced their intent to reconsider dozens of current regulations in an effort to loosen standards originally imposed to protect the environment and public health.
—Stan Meiburg, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 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 4 May. 2025.
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