loosely
LOOS-lee
Loosely (adv) means In a way that is not tight or firmly fixed. Example: “He wrapped the scarf loosely around his neck.”
adv
1
In a way that is not tight or firmly fixed.
"He wrapped the scarf loosely around his neck."
"The rope hung loosely from the post, swaying gently in the breeze."
"She tied her hair loosely so it would not pull."
2
Roughly or approximately, without being precise.
"It's red, to use the term loosely, sort of brown and sort of orange, let's call it reddish."
"a comic loosely based on an Old Norse epic"
"The film is loosely based on true events."
"It is loosely adapted by John Hodge from Irvine Welsh’s novel Porno which imagined them coming together again 10 years on; this of course is 20."
— Peter Bradshaw, T2 Trainspotting review – choose a sequel that doesn't disappoint (2017)
"The word is loosely translated as friendship, though it means a little more."
"He described the plan loosely, leaving out most of the details."
How to use loosely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot tightly, or in a rough, approximate way.
Common pairings
loosely based on
loosely connected
hold loosely
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more loosely
- Superlative
- most loosely
Fill the gap
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He wrapped the scarf _____ around his neck.
Etymology
Descends from Middle English lously, equivalent to loose + -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for loosely
See all rhymes for loosely →Frequently asked questions
What does “loosely” mean?
The word “loosely” means in a way that is not tight or firmly fixed. In plain terms, not tightly, or in a rough, approximate way.
How do you pronounce “loosely”?
“Loosely” is pronounced LOOS-lee (/ˈluːsli/ in IPA).
How do you use “loosely” in a sentence?
Here is “loosely” used in a sentence: “He wrapped the scarf loosely around his neck.”
What is the opposite of “loosely”?
The opposite of “loosely” — its antonyms — is tightly.
What part of speech is “loosely”?
“Loosely” is an adverb.
Is “loosely” a common word?
“Loosely” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “loosely” have?
“Loosely” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a way that is not tight or firmly fixed.
What is the difference between doing something "loosely" and "tightly"?
"Loosely" describes something that is not firmly fixed, secured, or precise, while "tightly" describes the opposite — something held firm and close. A rope tied loosely can slip, whereas one tied tightly cannot move.
What does it mean when a film is described as "loosely based on" a true story?
It means the film takes its general idea or inspiration from real events but changes many details, so the result is only roughly or approximately connected to what actually happened. This use of "loosely" signals that accuracy was not the priority.
Can "loosely" describe both physical looseness and vague or imprecise ideas?
Yes. "Loosely" can describe a physical state, such as clothes fitting loosely, or an abstract one, such as a plan being loosely defined, meaning it is approximate rather than exact.
