verb
loosen
LOOSN
verb
1
To make something less tight, or to become less tight.
"He loosened his tie after the long meeting."
"The screws had loosened over time."
2
To relax or reduce restrictions.
"The new policy loosens the rules on remote working."
How to Use Loosen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make (or become) less tight, or to relax a restriction.
Common pairings
loosen your grip
loosen up
loosen restrictions
Word Forms
loosened past tense, loosens singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “loosen”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ his tie after the long meeting.
Etymology
From loose plus the verb-forming suffix -en, meaning "to make loose."