loose

1 of 3

adjective

ˈlüs 

looser; loosest

1

a

: not rigidly fastened or securely attached

loose planks in a bridge

b(1)

: having worked partly free from attachments

a loose tooth

(2)

: having relative freedom of movement

c

: produced freely and accompanied by raising of mucus

a loose cough

d

: not tight-fitting

loose clothing

2

a

: free from a state of confinement, restraint, or obligation

a lion loose in the streets

spend loose funds wisely

b

: not brought together in a bundle, container, or binding

c

archaic : disconnected, detached

3

a

: not dense, close, or compact in structure or arrangement

loose soil

b

: not solid : watery

loose stools

4

a

: lacking in restraint or power of restraint

a loose tongue

b

: lacking moral restraint : unchaste

c

: overactive

specifically : marked by frequent voiding especially of watery stools

loose bowels

5

a

: not tightly drawn or stretched : slack

a loose belt

b

: being flexible or relaxed

stay loose

6

a

: lacking in precision, exactness, or care

loose brushwork

loose usage

b

: permitting freedom of interpretation

a loose construction of the Constitution

7

: not in the possession of either of two competing teams

a loose ball

a loose puck

looseness noun

loose

2 of 3

verb

ˈlüs 

loosed; loosing

transitive verb

1

a

: to let loose (see loose entry 1) : release

loosed the dogs on the prowlers

b

: to free from restraint

2

: to make loose : untie

loose a knot

3

: to cast loose : detach

loosed the boat from its moorings

—George Eliot

4

: to let fly : discharge

loosed a hail of bullets

5

: to make less rigid, tight, or strict : relax

loosed his grip

intransitive verb

: to let fly a missile (such as an arrow) : fire

loose

3 of 3

adverb

ˈlüs 

: in a loose manner (see loose entry 1) : loosely

Synonyms

Adjective

• insecure
• lax
• loosened
• relaxed
• slack
• slackened
• unsecured

Verb

• blast
• discharge
• fire
• shoot
• squeeze off

Examples of loose in a Sentence

Adjective

Some of the shingles on the roof were loose.

The rope was tied in a loose knot.

The nails had been pried loose.

Some of the shingles had come loose.

The boat came loose from its moorings and floated out into the harbor.

The ball popped loose from the shortstop's glove.

loose reins on a horse

She was wearing a loose dress.

The dog was wandering loose in the streets.

Verb

The soldiers loosed a volley of rifle fire.

the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In 2015, one of Hyde’s tigers got loose on a photo shoot with photographer David Yarrow in the historic Packard Plant in Detroit. —Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024

Investigating agencies have been set loose on Mr. Modi’s political opponents — more than 90 percent of cases involving politicians over the past decade have involved the opposition. —Mujib Mashal, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Verb, and Adverb

Middle English lous, from Old Norse lauss; akin to Old High German lōs loose — more at -less

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing loose

• all hell breaks loose
• at a loose end
• at loose ends
• break loose
• cut loose
• fast and loose
• got a screw loose
• hang loose
• have a few loose screws
• have a loose screw
• have a screw loose
• let loose
• loose box
• loose cannon
• loose change
• loose end
• loose-jointed
• loose-leaf
• loose-limbed
• loose sentence
• loose smut
• loose tongue
• on the loose
• play fast and loose
• tear oneself loose/free
• tie up loose ends
• turn loose

Kids Definition

loose

1 of 2 adjective

ˈlüs 

looser; loosest

1

a

: not firmly fastened or securely attached

a loose tooth

b

: no longer attached

a boat loose from its moorings

c

: not tight-fitting

2

a

: not shut in, tied up, or held back

a lion loose in the streets

b

: not brought together in a bundle, container, or binding

loose sheets of pages

3

: not dense or compact

loose dirt

cloth of loose weave

4

: not respectable : immoral

loose conduct

5

: not tightly drawn or stretched : slack

6

: not exact or careful

a loose guess

loose adverb

loosely adverb

looseness noun

loose

2 of 2 verb

loosed; loosing

1

: loosen sense 1

2

: shoot entry 1 sense 1, fire

loose a volley

Medical Definition

loose

adjective

ˈlüs 

looser; loosest

1

a

: not rigidly fastened or securely attached

b(1)

: having worked partly free from attachments

a loose tooth

(2)

: having relative freedom of movement

c

: produced freely and accompanied by raising of mucus

a loose cough

2

a

: not dense, close, or compact in structure or arrangement

loose connective tissue

b

: not solid : watery

loose stools

3

: overactive

specifically : marked by frequent voiding especially of watery stools

loose bowels

4

: not tightly drawn or stretched

loose skin

loosely adverb

looseness noun