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.
Warm water can help to loosen up food stuck remains, make soap lather more easily, and make the cleaning process more efficient in general, but it isn’t required for sanitizing dishes. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 10 Sep. 2025 The tip, of course, matters, but the rules loosen up. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025 Everyone needs a chance to loosen up and have some fun, and even though this is also quite dark in places, definitely violent, this one is end-of-summer relief from the real world Aronofsky often inhabits. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2025 Here’s another exclusive clip, which ends with a super sweet dance party—isn't it always so fun to watch adults loosen up and act like kids again? Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Loosen up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen%20up. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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