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looser; loosest
2
a
: free from a state of confinement, restraint, or obligation
b
: not brought together in a bundle, container, or binding
c
archaic
: disconnected, detached
looseness
noun
loosed; loosing
: to let fly a missile (such as an arrow) : fire
: in a loose manner (see loose entry 1) : loosely
Synonyms
Example Sentences
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
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Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Sam Manchester Andrew Das The New York Times Rory Smith Rory Smith Victor Mather, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2022
When Bogdanovic was down on the floor, Suns forward Mikal Bridges grabbed the loose ball and made a jumper to push Phoenix’s lead back to six points.
David Brandt, Detroit Free Press, 26 Nov. 2022
In that game, Jackson showed off his elite on-ball defense, cutting off passing lanes, pick-pocketing opponents and displaying never-ending effort – even diving on the floor for a loose ball late with the game in hand.
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 23 Nov. 2022
Midway in the first half Wednesday, a 6-foot-6 freight train scooped up a loose ball at one end of the court, barreled to the other and completed a ballerina-graceful layup that sent Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan sprawling.
Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Nov. 2022
Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile dove on the loose ball and called timeout with 7.5 seconds left.
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2022
Senior linebacker Ty Van Fossen then forced a fumble and junior defensive end Noah Potter recovered the loose ball to start the Cincinnati offense at its own 28-yard line with 8:00 remaining.
Keith Jenkins, The Enquirer, 20 Nov. 2022
AC Milan's Sergiño Dest fights for a loose ball with a midfielder from Monza during an October Serie A match.
Matt Doherty, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Nov. 2022
Jeremiah Earby scooped up the loose ball and took it 33 yards to the end zone.
Steve Kroner, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Nov. 2022
Matt Sullivan, Men's Health, 10 Aug. 2022
Maybe a week-long look in the mirror could jostle loose some new sense of hope heading into the season’s second half.
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2021
And in her final, climactic lines, Jesse’s mother lets loose her pain in a series of run-ons, making the formlessness of her constant grief at once visible and physical.
Robert Rubsam, The New Republic, 24 Feb. 2022
Finding dead end streets, eating at random restaurants, observing the jacaranda trees loose their purple flowers.
Gael Couturier, Outside Online, 27 Mar. 2019
But as Badr briefly lowered his hands in an apparent attempt to put his shoes on, one of the officers let loose a police dog, which sunk its teeth into Badr’s arm and continued to grip it for close to a minute, causing Badr to scream in agony.
Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2022
By filling an energy meter, which replenishes automatically over time, Mario, or one of the gang, can let loose a power shot that can send a ball hurtling to the faraway green.
Washington Post, 2 July 2021
When Minder explained the situation to his client, the man let loose a string of expletives.
Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 31 May 2021
Vast plumes of smoke and debris were thrown up into the air as US B-52 bombers and fighter jets let loose a seemingly endless barrage of missiles.
James Griffiths, CNN, 15 May 2021
Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2022
Olivia Wilde typically favors a casual look, and is frequently spotted in loose-fitting tracksuits, jeans and comfy hoodies (often her boyfriend Harry Styles’s merch).
Alex Kessler, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2022
If ever there was a time to let loose with a four-letter word, this was it.
Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2022
The song was given an especially moody rendition until Manzanera let loose on his whammy bar and delivered a torrent of guitar pyrotechnics.
Brad Auerbach, SPIN, 2 Oct. 2022
Golovkin appeared unwilling — or unable — to let loose.
Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022
That’s when Gedeon and Kilbane tightened their chinstraps one more time and let loose. Kilbane got to Schoster on second down for his third sack.
Matt Goul, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022
The Rhode founder styled an oversized navy blazer with a pair of loose-fitting cargo pants in the same hue, and a matching bandeau top.
Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Oct. 2022
But the real masterstroke wasn’t just the head-to-toe linen on a baking hot day, but Pitt’s loose-fitting, brown linen skirt.
Liam Hess, Vogue, 19 July 2022
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Adjective
Poland’s lead came in the first half when Robert Lewandowski scrambled to save a loose ball near the end line and then found Piotr Zielinski in front of the net, where the midfielder one-timed a shot over Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais.
Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Sam Manchester Andrew Das The New York Times Rory Smith Rory Smith Victor Mather, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2022
When Bogdanovic was down on the floor, Suns forward Mikal Bridges grabbed the loose ball and made a jumper to push Phoenix’s lead back to six points.
David Brandt, Detroit Free Press, 26 Nov. 2022
In that game, Jackson showed off his elite on-ball defense, cutting off passing lanes, pick-pocketing opponents and displaying never-ending effort – even diving on the floor for a loose ball late with the game in hand.
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 23 Nov. 2022
Midway in the first half Wednesday, a 6-foot-6 freight train scooped up a loose ball at one end of the court, barreled to the other and completed a ballerina-graceful layup that sent Spurs rookie Jeremy Sochan sprawling.
Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Nov. 2022
Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile dove on the loose ball and called timeout with 7.5 seconds left.
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2022
Senior linebacker Ty Van Fossen then forced a fumble and junior defensive end Noah Potter recovered the loose ball to start the Cincinnati offense at its own 28-yard line with 8:00 remaining.
Keith Jenkins, The Enquirer, 20 Nov. 2022
AC Milan's Sergiño Dest fights for a loose ball with a midfielder from Monza during an October Serie A match.
Matt Doherty, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Nov. 2022
Jeremiah Earby scooped up the loose ball and took it 33 yards to the end zone.
Steve Kroner, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Nov. 2022
Verb
With each piñata crack of awkwardness, our pandemic PTSD let loose a little more.
Matt Sullivan, Men's Health, 10 Aug. 2022
Maybe a week-long look in the mirror could jostle loose some new sense of hope heading into the season’s second half.
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2021
And in her final, climactic lines, Jesse’s mother lets loose her pain in a series of run-ons, making the formlessness of her constant grief at once visible and physical.
Robert Rubsam, The New Republic, 24 Feb. 2022
Finding dead end streets, eating at random restaurants, observing the jacaranda trees loose their purple flowers.
Gael Couturier, Outside Online, 27 Mar. 2019
But as Badr briefly lowered his hands in an apparent attempt to put his shoes on, one of the officers let loose a police dog, which sunk its teeth into Badr’s arm and continued to grip it for close to a minute, causing Badr to scream in agony.
Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2022
By filling an energy meter, which replenishes automatically over time, Mario, or one of the gang, can let loose a power shot that can send a ball hurtling to the faraway green.
Washington Post, 2 July 2021
When Minder explained the situation to his client, the man let loose a string of expletives.
Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 31 May 2021
Vast plumes of smoke and debris were thrown up into the air as US B-52 bombers and fighter jets let loose a seemingly endless barrage of missiles.
James Griffiths, CNN, 15 May 2021
Adverb
The design also featured a loose-fitting hood, which Moss seamlessly pulled over her top-knot bun.
Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2022
Olivia Wilde typically favors a casual look, and is frequently spotted in loose-fitting tracksuits, jeans and comfy hoodies (often her boyfriend Harry Styles’s merch).
Alex Kessler, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2022
If ever there was a time to let loose with a four-letter word, this was it.
Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2022
The song was given an especially moody rendition until Manzanera let loose on his whammy bar and delivered a torrent of guitar pyrotechnics.
Brad Auerbach, SPIN, 2 Oct. 2022
Golovkin appeared unwilling — or unable — to let loose.
Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022
That’s when Gedeon and Kilbane tightened their chinstraps one more time and let loose. Kilbane got to Schoster on second down for his third sack.
Matt Goul, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022
The Rhode founder styled an oversized navy blazer with a pair of loose-fitting cargo pants in the same hue, and a matching bandeau top.
Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Oct. 2022
But the real masterstroke wasn’t just the head-to-toe linen on a baking hot day, but Pitt’s loose-fitting, brown linen skirt.
Liam Hess, Vogue, 19 July 2022
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These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Verb, and Adverb
Middle English lous, from Old Norse lauss; akin to Old High German lōs loose — more at -less
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Adverb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of loose was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing loose
Dictionary Entries Near loose
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loose. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
loose
adjective
looser; loosest
loosely
adverb
looseness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on loose
Nglish: Translation of loose for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of loose for Arabic Speakers
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