loose end

noun

1

: something left hanging loose

2

: a fragment of unfinished business

—usually used in plural

tying up loose ends

Examples of loose end in a Sentence

We still have one more loose end to deal with before we're finished with the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

The first group was brought in late Tuesday morning after defense lawyers and prosecutors ironed out some last-minute loose ends. —Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

So the daughter, still wracked with grief, with a bunch of arrangements to make, wasted no time trying to tie up that one loose end. —Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025

This feels like one of those loose ends that still needs to be tied up, and that there’s a reason for establishing this connection. —Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025

During a visit to the set of the beloved Roseanne spinoff, Laurie Metcalf — who plays Jackie Harris — tells PEOPLE that viewers can expect there to be some loose ends when the season concludes after seven seasons. —Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for loose end

• apprehend
• comprehend
• condescend
• dividend
• recommend
• resuspend
• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend

Kids Definition

loose end

noun

1

: something left hanging loose

2

: a piece of unfinished business

tying up loose ends