loosen
verb
loos·en ˈlü-sᵊn 
loosened; loosening ˈlüs-niŋ
ˈlü-sᵊn-iŋ
transitive verb
1
: to release from restraint
2
: to make looser
loosened his tie
loosen a screw
3
: to relieve (the bowels) of constipation
4
: to cause or permit to become less strict —often used with up
loosened the rules
intransitive verb
: to become loose or looser
Synonyms
- ease
- relax
- slack
- slacken
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He used a spade to loosen the soil. She loosened the cake from the sides of the pan. After eating so much I had to loosen my belt. When the meeting was over he loosened his tie. One of the screws had loosened a bit and had to be tightened. Each generation seems to loosen the established standards of behavior. Standards of behavior seem to be loosening everywhere. See More
Recent Examples on the Web If too thick, loosen with additional olive oil and a little water. 
Kathleen Squires, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Then reach into the opening at the base of the dryer with the brush, loosen the lint and vacuum it out. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2022 Finally, metal hand rakes are used for detail work, like neatening up raised beds and to loosen and cultivate soil. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 5 Aug. 2022 Challengers across the ideological spectrum have launched campaigns, hoping that the new maps will loosen the terrain and lead to the unseating of longtime incumbents. New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 Candidates may be less inclined to levy fines and loosen inspections during campaigns. Gabriela Sá Pessoa And Kasha Patel, Anchorage Daily News, 8 July 2022 When business performance slows, companies will freeze hiring or even impose layoffs, which will loosen demand for workers and slow wage growth, experts said. Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 June 2022 Or talk about how strengthening your glutes can help with power, or how mobility moves can help loosen a tight back. Shauna Harrison, SELF, 14 June 2022 Biden clearly hopes that ushering the Saudis back into the proverbial family of nations will loosen the spigots. Michael A. Cohen, The New Republic, 8 June 2022 See More
Kathleen Squires, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Then reach into the opening at the base of the dryer with the brush, loosen the lint and vacuum it out. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2022 Finally, metal hand rakes are used for detail work, like neatening up raised beds and to loosen and cultivate soil. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 5 Aug. 2022 Challengers across the ideological spectrum have launched campaigns, hoping that the new maps will loosen the terrain and lead to the unseating of longtime incumbents. New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 Candidates may be less inclined to levy fines and loosen inspections during campaigns. Gabriela Sá Pessoa And Kasha Patel, Anchorage Daily News, 8 July 2022 When business performance slows, companies will freeze hiring or even impose layoffs, which will loosen demand for workers and slow wage growth, experts said. Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 June 2022 Or talk about how strengthening your glutes can help with power, or how mobility moves can help loosen a tight back. Shauna Harrison, SELF, 14 June 2022 Biden clearly hopes that ushering the Saudis back into the proverbial family of nations will loosen the spigots. Michael A. Cohen, The New Republic, 8 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing loosen
Kids Definition
loosen
verb
loos·en ˈlü-sᵊn
loosened; loosening
: to make or become less tight or firmly fixed
Can you loosen this screw?
His grip loosened.
loosened 1 of 2
adjective
as in loose
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched the loosened nuts finally dropped off of the screws Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- loose
- slack
- slackened
- relaxed
- undone
- detached
- lax
- unsecured
- untied
- unfastened
- insecure
- unbound
- unattached
- free
- baggy
- saggy
- blousy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tight
- taut
- restrained
- tense
- constrained
- bound
- attached
- tied
- fastened
- stuck
- firm
- fast
- jammed
- wedged
- snug
loosened
2 of 2verb
1
as in relaxed
to make less taut the lead climber loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver Synonyms & Similar Words
- relaxed
- eased
- slackened
- detached
- slacked
- untied
- unfastened
- undid
- freed
- unbound
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tightened
- stretched
- attached
- tied
- bound
- strained
- fastened
- tensed
- tensioned
- restrained
- constrained
2
as in freed
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) the dog ran after the squirrel after he was loosened from the post Synonyms & Similar Words
- freed
- released
- liberated
- loosed
- rescued
- sprung
- enlarged
- saved
- unfettered
- sprang
- disenthralled
- unchained
- unbound
- emancipated
- enfranchised
- turned loose
- manumitted
- uncaged
- disenthraled
- discharged
- extricated
- disentangled
- ransomed
- disengaged
- paroled
- unshackled
- redeemed
- disencumbered
- delivered
- disembarrassed
- bailed (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- restrained
- bound
- confined
- fettered
- shackled
- handcuffed
- enchained
- imprisoned
- trammelled
- locked (up)
- subdued
- manacled
- incarcerated
- committed
- jailed
- trammeled
- subjugated
- conquered
- interned
- enslaved
- immured
3
as in unleashed
to set free (from a state of being held in check) once he got to know us better, his inhibitions loosened a bit Synonyms & Similar Words
- unleashed
- released
- loosed
- unloosened
- unloosed
- unlocked
- let go
- uncorked
- expressed
- liberated
- sprung
- aired
- unfettered
- freed
- sprang
- unbound
- unchained
- emancipated
- unshackled
- enfranchised
- unmoored
- manumitted
- discharged
- uncaged
- vented
- took out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- held
- restrained
- inhibited
- curbed
- constrained
- controlled
- checked
- regulated
- governed
- tamed
- contained
- bridled
- smothered
- shackled
- handcuffed
- bound
- confined
- fettered
- hampered
- reined (in)
- trammelled
- manacled
- trammeled
- enchained
- haltered