1
: carrying a load
a loaded freight train
: such as
a
: containing an explosive charge
a loaded warhead
: having bullets inside
a loaded handgun
b
of a camera
: having film inside
2
informal
: having a large amount of something
a store loaded with goods
a report loaded with errors
: such as
a
: having a large amount of money : wealthy
She left them a fortune and the family is now loaded.
b
: equipped with an abundance of features
a fully loaded car
c
: filled or topped with many things
a loaded baked potato
d
: featuring a great amount of top-level talent
a basketball team with a loaded roster
a loaded competition
3
chiefly US slang
: intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
especially
: drunk
They got loaded at the party.
… no matter how loaded he got, Billy did his drinking at home and always put the cans in the recycling bin … —
Stephen King
Stephen King 4
a
: carrying a hidden or secondary meaning that is capable of causing unease
Because "asylum" is a loaded term, it can draw attention to crucial issues facing vulnerable Americans, but it also tends to foreclose discussion of real solutions.—The New York Times
The New York Times"You tell me," Cora said. "Do you think I had a therapist?" Aaron's mouth fell open. That was a loaded question. Any answer would be wrong.—Parnell Hall
Parnell Hall
b
: weighted to favor a specific outcome
loaded dice
(figurative) … the dice of life are loaded in favor of first borns in ways they simply aren't for any siblings who come along later.—Jeffrey Kluger
Jeffrey Klugerloaded
2 of 2past tense and past participle of load entry 2
Synonyms
Examples of loaded in a Sentence
Adjective
He said he didn't know the gun was loaded.
the department stores were loaded with goods for the holiday shopping season
Recent Examples on the WebDua Rashid / Gizmodo, Quartz, 1 June 2024
Also Read 30 Artists Reflect on Metallica’s Black Album Turning 30
The reality of his condition got much clearer in January 2023, while Shultz was staying at the Bowery Hotel in New York City, where police arrested the singer for criminal possession of loaded firearms.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 31 May 2024
One, from 2020, charged him with possessing a loaded pistol.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024
No American has won a distance race on the track since 1964, when Billy Mills upset a loaded field to win the 10,000.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for loaded 
Adjective
By Start Slideshow May was a loaded month with Apple and Google both releasing products.
—Dua Rashid / Gizmodo, Quartz, 1 June 2024
Also Read 30 Artists Reflect on Metallica’s Black Album Turning 30
The reality of his condition got much clearer in January 2023, while Shultz was staying at the Bowery Hotel in New York City, where police arrested the singer for criminal possession of loaded firearms.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 31 May 2024
One, from 2020, charged him with possessing a loaded pistol.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024
No American has won a distance race on the track since 1964, when Billy Mills upset a loaded field to win the 10,000.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for loaded
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loaded.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near loaded
Cite this Entry
“Loaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loaded. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
loaded
adjective
load·ed
ˈlōd-əd 
1
slang
: drunk entry 2 sense 1
2
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