looser; loosest
1
a
: not rigidly fastened or securely attached
loose planks in a bridge
b(1)
: having worked partly free from attachments
a loose tooth
(2)
: having relative freedom of movement
c
: produced freely and accompanied by raising of mucus
a loose cough
d
: not tight-fitting
loose clothing
2
a
: free from a state of confinement, restraint, or obligation
a lion loose in the streets
spend loose funds wisely
b
: not brought together in a bundle, container, or binding
c
archaic
: disconnected, detached
3
a
: not dense, close, or compact in structure or arrangement
loose soil
b
: not solid : watery
loose stools
4
a
: lacking in restraint or power of restraint
a loose tongue
b
: lacking moral restraint : unchaste
c
: overactive
specifically
: marked by frequent voiding especially of watery stools
loose bowels
6
a
: lacking in precision, exactness, or care
loose brushwork
loose usage
b
: permitting freedom of interpretation
a loose construction of the Constitution
7
: not in the possession of either of two competing teams
a loose ball
a loose puck
looseness
noun
loosed; loosing
1
a
: to let loose (see loose entry 1) : release
loosed the dogs on the prowlers
b
: to free from restraint
2
: to make loose : untie
loose a knot
5
: to make less rigid, tight, or strict : relax
loosed his grip
: to let fly a missile (such as an arrow) : fire
: in a loose manner (see loose entry 1) : loosely
Examples of loose in a Sentence
Adjective
Some of the shingles on the roof were loose.
The rope was tied in a loose knot.
The nails had been pried loose.
Some of the shingles had come loose.
The boat came loose from its moorings and floated out into the harbor.
The ball popped loose from the shortstop's glove.
loose reins on a horse
She was wearing a loose dress.
The dog was wandering loose in the streets.
Verb
The soldiers loosed a volley of rifle fire.
the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them
Recent Examples on the Web
Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2025
In these, the enemy is not a standing army but various terrorist organizations and looser categories of hostiles, enmeshed in large civilian populations.
—Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
In the fall of 1982, Love Child receives its title and is loosed into theaters, only to vanish a few weeks later.
—Matthew Specktor, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
But, about halfway into the story, Proulx abandons her customary prose style, which is as coiled as a rattlesnake and about as sentimental, in order to cut loose and give the boys their first moment of physical tenderness.
—Michael Cunningham, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Iconic examples abound, from Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking to Armani’s loose takes that made trousers for women permissible evening attire.
—Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2025
In these, the enemy is not a standing army but various terrorist organizations and looser categories of hostiles, enmeshed in large civilian populations.
—Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
Unsurprisingly, markets and investors are loosing their patience with BP.
—Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
In the fall of 1982, Love Child receives its title and is loosed into theaters, only to vanish a few weeks later.
—Matthew Specktor, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Adverb
Olsen wears hers in an elegant, versatile way with less wave that allows for slight movement and a glimpse of her eyebrows; Swift lets her curls hang loose across her forehead.
—Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
But, about halfway into the story, Proulx abandons her customary prose style, which is as coiled as a rattlesnake and about as sentimental, in order to cut loose and give the boys their first moment of physical tenderness.
—Michael Cunningham, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loose. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
loose
1 of 2 adjective
looser; loosest
1
a
: not firmly fastened or securely attached
a loose tooth
b
: no longer attached
a boat loose from its moorings
c
: not tight-fitting
2
a
: not shut in, tied up, or held back
a lion loose in the streets
b
: not brought together in a bundle, container, or binding
loose sheets of pages
3
: not dense or compact
loose dirt
cloth of loose weave
4
: not respectable : immoral
loose conduct
5
: not tightly drawn or stretched : slack
6
: not exact or careful
a loose guess
loose
adverb
loosely
adverb
looseness
noun
Medical Definition
loose
adjective
looser; loosest
1
a
: not rigidly fastened or securely attached
b(1)
: having worked partly free from attachments
a loose tooth
(2)
: having relative freedom of movement
c
: produced freely and accompanied by raising of mucus
a loose cough
2
a
: not dense, close, or compact in structure or arrangement
loose connective tissue
b
: not solid : watery
loose stools
3
: overactive
specifically
: marked by frequent voiding especially of watery stools
loose bowels
4
: not tightly drawn or stretched
loose skin
loosely
adverb
looseness
noun
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