on the loose
idiom
: able to move freely : not controlled or held in a prison, cage, etc.
—used especially to describe a dangerous person, animal, or group
The prisoner escaped and is still on the loose.
A killer is on the loose.
An angry mob was on the loose.
Examples of on the loose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Four of the monkeys are reportedly still on the loose.
—
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024
The gunman remains on the loose and a motive is unclear.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
He was last seen heading into Central Park on the Center Drive at about 6:48 a.m., and remains on the loose.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
More than half of the monkeys that escaped a medical research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, last week have been recovered, but 18 remain on the loose.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for on the loose 
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.
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024
The gunman remains on the loose and a motive is unclear.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
He was last seen heading into Central Park on the Center Drive at about 6:48 a.m., and remains on the loose.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
More than half of the monkeys that escaped a medical research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, last week have been recovered, but 18 remain on the loose.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for on the loose
Dictionary Entries Near on the loose
Cite this Entry
“On the loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20loose. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share