adj
Common
loaded
LOH-duhd
Loaded (adj) means carrying or filled with a heavy load. Example: “The loaded ship sat low in the water as it left harbour.”
adj
1
Carrying or filled with a heavy load.
"The loaded ship sat low in the water as it left harbour."
"She pushed the heavily loaded wheelbarrow across the muddy field."
"The loaded truck struggled up the hill."
2
(Of a firearm) containing ammunition ready to fire.
"The range officer checked that no rifle on the table was loaded."
"Police officers are trained to treat every weapon as if it were loaded."
"Never point a loaded gun at anyone."
3
Informal: very wealthy.
"Their neighbours must be loaded, judging by the size of that house."
"He looks ordinary, but his family are absolutely loaded."
"Ever since selling the company, he's been loaded."
4
(Of a question or word) deliberately phrased to provoke a particular reaction or carry strong emotional connotations.
"Asking whether she had finally grown up was a loaded question."
"The article used loaded language that clearly tried to anger its readers."
""Do you still lie to your family?" is a loaded question."
5
Covered with all the extra toppings or options available.
"He ordered a loaded baked potato with cheese, bacon and sour cream."
"The loaded nachos arrived piled high with salsa, beans and jalapenos."
"I'll have the loaded fries, please."
How to use loaded
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFilled with something (cargo, ammunition, toppings), or informally, rich, or (of a question) designed to trap someone.
When to use it
"Loaded" meaning rich or drunk is informal/slang.
Common pairings
loaded question
loaded gun
loaded fries
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more loaded
- Superlative
- most loaded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ ship sat low in the water as it left harbour.
Etymology
From load + the suffix -ed.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for loaded
See all rhymes for loaded →Frequently asked questions
What does “loaded” mean?
The word “loaded” means carrying or filled with a heavy load. In plain terms, filled with something (cargo, ammunition, toppings), or informally, rich, or (of a question) designed to trap someone.
How do you pronounce “loaded”?
“Loaded” is pronounced LOH-duhd (/ˈloʊ.dɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “loaded” in a sentence?
Here is “loaded” used in a sentence: “The loaded truck struggled up the hill.”
What part of speech is “loaded”?
“Loaded” is an adjective.
Is “loaded” a common word?
“Loaded” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “loaded” have?
“Loaded” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: carrying or filled with a heavy load.
What is the difference between "loaded" and "unloaded" when talking about a firearm?
A loaded firearm contains ammunition ready to fire, while an unloaded one has no ammunition in it. A standard safety rule is to treat every gun as if it were loaded, whether or not you believe it is.
What is the difference between "loaded" and "overloaded"?
"Loaded" simply means carrying or filled with a load, which may be a normal, safe amount. "Overloaded" means carrying more than the safe or intended capacity, so a loaded truck is filled while an overloaded truck carries too much.
What things are commonly described as "loaded"?
In the sense of carrying a heavy load, "loaded" often describes vehicles and containers, as in a loaded truck, loaded cart, or loaded wagon. In the firearms sense it describes a weapon holding ammunition, as in a loaded gun or loaded rifle.
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