loosen

[ loo-suh n ]

/ ˈlu sən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR loosen ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to unfasten or undo, as a bond or fetter.

to make less tight; slacken or relax: to loosen one's grasp.

to make less firmly fixed in place: to loosen a tooth.

to let loose or set free from bonds, restraint, or constraint.

to make less close or compact in structure or arrangement.

to make less dense or coherent: to loosen the soil in a garden.

to relax in strictness or severity, as restraint or discipline: to loosen restrictions on trade.

to relieve (the bowels) of their constipated condition.

verb (used without object)

to become loose or looser (sometimes followed by up): His hold loosened. Your shoes will loosen up with wear.

Origin of loosen

First recorded in 1350–1400, loosen is from the Middle English word loosnen. See loose, -en¹

OTHER WORDS FROM loosen

loos·en·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH loosen

loose loosen lose loss

Words nearby loosen

loose-leaf, loose-limbed, loose-lipped, loose-tongued, loosebox, loosen, loosening of association, loosening of associations, loosestrife, loosestrife family, loosey-goosey

Example sentences from the Web for loosened

In 2013, the state legislature passed a sweeping charter school bill pushed by Mitchell that loosened oversight and regulation.

At This Creepy Libertarian Charter School, Kids Must Swear ‘to Be Obedient to Those in Authority’ |ProPublica |October 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But recently, the MPAA has loosened the stick in its collective ass and allowed women to go there whilst maintaining an R rating.

Oral Sex Comes of Age in Hollywood: ‘Gone Girl’ the Latest Film to Showcase Female Pleasure |Marlow Stern |October 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In 2017, those reins will be loosened, and Hongkongers will be able to vote for their Chief Executive.

Is Hong Kong Tiananmen 2.0? |Brendon Hong |September 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“Soon enough, he loosened his Pierre Cardin belt,” she writes.

His Reputation Precedes Him: Dov Charney’s Blacklist |Justin Jones |June 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

A generation ago, Beijing watched nervously as the Soviet Union loosened its grip only to fall, and split apart.

On the 25th Anniversary of Tiananmen Sq., Chinese Dissidents Remain Undaunted |Ellen Bork |June 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Hilda, in her anxiety, ran around, past the corner where the low roof was fringed with its loosened thatch.

Hans Brinker |Mary Mapes Dodge
Susan took her horse there; loosened his girths, and rubbed him down with a wisp of straw.

Half a Life-time Ago |Elizabeth Gaskell
As he loosened the braided rawhide from his waist his gaze was roaming over the opposite rocks.

The Black Wolf Pack |Dan Beard
But Colwyn loosened himself quickly from her detaining grasp, and strode to the door.

The Shrieking Pit |Arthur J. Rees
Scattergood loosened a sheet of paper which had been lightly glued to the page.

Scattergood Baines |Clarence Budington Kelland

British Dictionary definitions for loosened

loosen

/ (ˈluːsən) /

verb

to make or become less tight, fixed, etc

(often foll by up) to make or become less firm, compact, or rigid

(tr) to untie

(tr) to let loose; set free

(often foll by up) to make or become less strict, severe, etc

(tr) to rid or relieve (the bowels) of constipation

Derived forms of loosen

loosener, noun

Word Origin for loosen

C14: from loose

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

loosen

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of loosen

OTHER WORDS FROM loosen

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH loosen

Words nearby loosen

Example sentences from the Web for loosened

British Dictionary definitions for loosened

verb

Derived forms of loosen

Word Origin for loosen

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

loosen

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of loosen

OTHER WORDS FROM loosen

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH loosen

Words nearby loosen

Words related to loosened

Example sentences from the Web for loosened

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for loosened

verb

Derived forms of loosen

Word Origin for loosen

British Dictionary definitions for loosened