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
Her avocados, for instance, are almost always halved, loosened from the skin, which remains to protect the fruit, then sliced, drizzled with lemon or lime juice and seasoned with salt, pepper and often chopped chives.
—
Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Missing or loosened stones create tripping hazards, and city workers must frequently be dispatched to carry out repairs.
—Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Ranchers are not allowed to shoot at or around the wolves because of their protection under the California Endangered Species Act, a restriction proponents for loosening these protections feel isn't reasonable.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 May 2025
The president is also moving to loosen restrictions on air pollution, which experts say will lead to more planet warming emissions, and to overturn the government’s legal authority to regulate those gases.
—David Gelles, New York Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Missing or loosened stones create tripping hazards, and city workers must frequently be dispatched to carry out repairs.
—Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Ranchers are not allowed to shoot at or around the wolves because of their protection under the California Endangered Species Act, a restriction proponents for loosening these protections feel isn't reasonable.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 May 2025
The president is also moving to loosen restrictions on air pollution, which experts say will lead to more planet warming emissions, and to overturn the government’s legal authority to regulate those gases.
—David Gelles, New York Times, 19 May 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 28 May. 2025.
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