loosen
verb /ˈluːsn/
/ˈluːsn/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they loosen | /ˈluːsn/ /ˈluːsn/ |
| he / she / it loosens | /ˈluːsnz/ /ˈluːsnz/ |
| past simple loosened | /ˈluːsnd/ /ˈluːsnd/ |
| past participle loosened | /ˈluːsnd/ /ˈluːsnd/ |
| -ing form loosening | /ˈluːsnɪŋ/ /ˈluːsnɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] loosen (something) to make something less tight or strongly fixed; to become less tight or strongly fixed synonym slacken
- First loosen the nuts, then take off the wheel.
- The rope holding the boat loosened.
- [transitive] loosen something to make a piece of clothing, hair, etc. loose, when it has been tied or fastened
- She loosened her hair so that it fell over her shoulders.
- [transitive] loosen your hands, hold, etc. to hold somebody/something less tightly
- He loosened his grip and let her go.
- (figurative) The military regime has not loosened its hold on power.
- [transitive] loosen something to make something weaker or less carefully managed than before synonym relax
- The party has loosened its links with big business.
opposite tighten
Idioms
loosen somebody’s tongue
- to make somebody talk more freely than usual
- A bottle of wine had loosened Harry's tongue.