loosened; loosening
ˈlü-sᵊn-iŋ 
ˈlüs-niŋ
1
: to release from restraint
2
: to make looser
loosened his tie
loosen a screw
3
: to relieve (the bowels) of constipation
4
: to cause or permit to become less strict
—often used with up
loosened the rules
: to become loose or looser
Examples of loosen in a Sentence
He used a spade to loosen the soil.
She loosened the cake from the sides of the pan.
After eating so much I had to loosen my belt.
When the meeting was over he loosened his tie.
One of the screws had loosened a bit and had to be tightened.
Each generation seems to loosen the established standards of behavior.
Standards of behavior seem to be loosening everywhere.
Recent Examples on the Web
The machine momentarily pitched forward, straining to loosen it from the ground — and then the electric motor heaved the boulder and a clod of dirt into the air in a puff of dust.
—
Nicolás Rivero, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
His economic plans were far less popular; two proposals to loosen business regulations, which his opposition had described as gifts to the neoliberal élite, were soundly rejected.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024
The silicon pieces, still laced with silver, are immersed in a bath of organic acid and treated with ultrasound to loosen the bonds between the elements.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 June 2024
Its warm temperature can soothe sore throats and also acts as a vaporizer, helping to loosen mucus in the nasal passages, which can alleviate that stuffy nose.
—Jeannette Moninger, Parents, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for loosen 
Nicolás Rivero, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
His economic plans were far less popular; two proposals to loosen business regulations, which his opposition had described as gifts to the neoliberal élite, were soundly rejected.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024
The silicon pieces, still laced with silver, are immersed in a bath of organic acid and treated with ultrasound to loosen the bonds between the elements.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 June 2024
Its warm temperature can soothe sore throats and also acts as a vaporizer, helping to loosen mucus in the nasal passages, which can alleviate that stuffy nose.
—Jeannette Moninger, Parents, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for loosen
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loosen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen. Accessed 3 Jul. 2024.
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