loosen

verb

loos·en ˈlü-sᵊn How to pronounce loosen (audio)

loosened; loosening ˈlüs-niŋ How to pronounce loosen (audio)

ˈlü-sᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to release from restraint

: to make looser

loosened his tie

loosen a screw

: to relieve (the bowels) of constipation

: to cause or permit to become less strict

—often used with up

loosened the rules

intransitive verb

: to become loose or looser

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

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 2

verb

past tense of loosen

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

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

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

单词	loosened
释义	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 Word History First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Phrases Containing loosen loosen one's grip/hold loosen one's collar loosen someone's tongue loosen the purse strings loosen up loosen one's grip/hold loosen one's collar loosen someone's tongue loosen the purse strings loosen up 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 See More loosened 2 of 2 verb past tense of loosen 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 See More 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 See More 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 See More
随便看	treacle mould treacle mustard treacled treacles treaclewort treaclier treacliest treacling treacly tread tread lightly tread on (someone's) toes tread on one's toes tread on someone's toes tread on the toes of tread on the toes of (someone) tread on the toes of someone tread on toes tread plate tread the boards tread water tread-softly treaded treader treaders

loosen

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing loosen

Kids Definition

verb

adjective

verb