let loose
idiom
1
: to allow (someone or something) to move or go freely
He let the dogs loose in the courtyard.
cattle let loose to graze on the green fields
—often used figurativelya director who's willing to let her actors loose to interpret their roles however they see fit
how to stop the violence that has been let loose on the city
2
: to produce (something, such as a cry) in a sudden and forceful way
The crowd let loose an enormous groan when the pass was intercepted.
She let loose (with) a scream.
Examples of let loose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At least two bodies were found in a swollen waterway in Oregon after extreme rains let loose on the state.
—
Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2024
Curb’s ninth season hits its stride on the strength of Leon being let loose to aid and abet his septuagenarian friend.
—Larry Fitzmaurice, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2024
Dogs are often tied to park benches — or just let loose.
—Elizabeth Forel, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2024
Just 104 seconds into the match, Falcons senior midfielder Matthew Mannarino rolled across the center of the field and let loose with a bouncing left-handed shot from 10 yards that split goalie Boaz Brown’s legs for the game’s first goal.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for let loose 
Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2024
Curb’s ninth season hits its stride on the strength of Leon being let loose to aid and abet his septuagenarian friend.
—Larry Fitzmaurice, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2024
Dogs are often tied to park benches — or just let loose.
—Elizabeth Forel, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2024
Just 104 seconds into the match, Falcons senior midfielder Matthew Mannarino rolled across the center of the field and let loose with a bouncing left-handed shot from 10 yards that split goalie Boaz Brown’s legs for the game’s first goal.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for let loose
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'let loose.' 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 let loose
Cite this Entry
“Let loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20loose. Accessed 5 Jul. 2024.
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