loosen up

verb

loosened up; loosening up; loosens up
Synonyms of loosen upnext

intransitive verb

: to become less tense : relax

Examples of loosen up in a Sentence

hoped that adding a second lane would loosen up traffic on that street a high-pressure job that makes it hard for him to loosen up even on weekends
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dulude suggests loosening up the food particles on the microwave walls by placing a bowl of water inside with half a lemon and using a high setting to boil the water. Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026 But mortgage rates could slowly come down once the tension in the Middle East loosens up. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026 Let your guard down and loosen up a bit. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026 With just a few sprays, the hydrating formula melts into strands to loosen up hair and prevent breakage. Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loosen up

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loosen up was in 1922

Cite this Entry

“Loosen up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen%20up. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

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