loosen up

verb

loosened up; loosening up; loosens up

intransitive verb

: to become less tense : relax

Examples of loosen up in a Sentence

hoped that adding a second lane would loosen up traffic on that street a high-pressure job that makes it hard for him to loosen up even on weekends
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some players got even more creative with loosening up overtime. The Athletic Nhl Staff, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024 Pull your mum out of the pot and loosen up the root ball with your fingers, especially any circling roots. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Nov. 2024 Be sure to spend plenty of time massaging the cleanser into your skin, which will allow the blend of oils and plant extracts to loosen up the congestion in your pores. Emily Orofino, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024 At a stop at a memorial to Polish soldiers Benji coerces the group into posing for goofy photos, everyone loosening up, getting into it. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for loosen up 

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loosen up was in 1922

Dictionary Entries Near loosen up

Cite this Entry

“Loosen up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen%20up. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!