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.
Chisholm aimed to exhaust the opponent and loosen up the defense for later in the match. Jay King, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, steam only needs water heated to a high temperature to loosen up dirt and grime, plus sanitize surfaces. Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 3 Apr. 2025 That means loosening up a bit, letting go of both judgments and self-consciousness about the varying ways that people live with and care for children. Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025 China had been loosening up with more U.S. films than ever finding a berth over the past few years. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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