loosened; loosening
ˈlü-sᵊn-iŋ 
ˈlüs-niŋ
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
: to become loose or looser
Examples of loosen in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Communist Party plainly hopes that AI technology will offer a solution to the country’s economic malaise—a way to restore growth without resorting to the kinds of reforms that might loosen the party’s grip on power.
—
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Use your thumb to loosen the remaining arils.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
The formula relies on a balanced AHA blend of glycolic, lactic, pyruvic, and tartaric acids to loosen dead skin cells around rough patches, KP-prone areas, and uneven texture.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
And in November, OpenAI signed its first cloud contract with Amazon Web Services, further loosening Microsoft's once exclusive grip.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loosen
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Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Use your thumb to loosen the remaining arils.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
The formula relies on a balanced AHA blend of glycolic, lactic, pyruvic, and tartaric acids to loosen dead skin cells around rough patches, KP-prone areas, and uneven texture.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
And in November, OpenAI signed its first cloud contract with Amazon Web Services, further loosening Microsoft's once exclusive grip.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
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