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.
Many elite-level ski boots still have a lacing system that can loosen up over the course of a few kilometers. Stephanie Pearson, Outside Online, 10 Oct. 2024 Do Blake and Yachty come out of this odd-couple experience loosening up in their respective solo catalogues? Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 July 2024 In addition to the hot liquid helping to loosen up any congestion in your nasal passages, some chicken soups may also offer the following nutritional benefits:4 Fluids from the broth or soup base Protein and zinc through chicken Vitamin A from carrots Vitamin C from celery or onions 4. Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024 Add some acid, and things start to loosen up in the resulting cheese. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 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 21 Nov. 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!