on the loose

idiom

: able to move freely : not controlled or held in a prison, cage, etc.
used especially to describe a dangerous person, animal, or group
The prisoner escaped and is still on the loose.
A killer is on the loose.
An angry mob was on the loose.

Examples of on the loose in a Sentence

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.
An ex-con will serve 17 years behind bars for serving as the driver in a beloved Brooklyn chef’s drive-by shooting murder — but the men who pulled the trigger remain on the loose almost seven years after the killing. John Annese, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025 With a killer on the loose he is used to chomp down on a victim’s corpse to aid the police with their investigations. John Hopewell, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025 But these young adults won't be on the loose without support from some of their Bravolebrity parents. Gina Ragusa, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025 The suspect is believed to have fled in a car left nearby and remains on the loose. Louis Casiano, Fox News, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the loose

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On the loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20loose. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on on the loose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!