loosen

Word parts

loose + -en

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈluːsn̩/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form loosen

Third-person singular loosens

Past tense loosened

Past participle loosened

Present participle loosening

1. (transitive & intransitive) If you loosen something, you make it looser.
   • Antonym: tighten

   Can you loosen the lid on this jar for me.

   His grip on the gun loosened, but only for a second.

   Before you plant the seeds, lift the soil to loosen it without actually turning it over.

2. (intransitive) If somebody loosens up, they become more relaxed.
   • Synonym: relax
   • Antonym: tense

   She loosened up after she'd had a glass of wine.

3. (transitive & intransitive) If your joints or muscles loosen up, they start to move more easily.
   • Synonyms: relax and warm
   • Antonym: tense

   I took a deep breath, and I could feel the muscles in my chest loosen.

4. (transitive) If you loosen somebody's tongue, you make them talk about something they would not talk about before.

   But what truly loosened my tongue was knowing I was on home ground.

Related words

• loose