loosely

adverb

loose·​ly ˈlüs-lē How to pronounce loosely (audio)
Synonyms of looselynext
: in a loose manner
loosely attached
a collection of loosely connected stories
His shoes are set tidily together in a corner with his socks draped loosely across them.—Felix Carroll
Texting freed a generation from the strictures and inconvenience (and awkwardness) of phone calls, while allowing people to be more loosely and constantly connected.—Jenna Wortham
The novel is loosely based on the life of Georgia O'Keeffe.
Loosely translated from Japanese, umami means delicious or yummy.—N. Seppa

Examples of loosely in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The youngest of three brothers, Saito intended to loosely connect the project to his own family, with his shorts following three sisters instead. — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026 Once it’s been drained, loosely coil the hose and store it indoors. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026 That case loosely inspired The Conjuring (2013), in which Ed and Lorraine were portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, respectively. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Oct. 2026 At the time, it was mounted above the bar and hanging loosely on a hook, Biggins told the publication. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loosely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loosely was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing loosely

Rhymes for loosely

See All Rhymes for loosely

Browse Nearby Words

loose-lipped
loosely
loosely base on
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Cite this Entry

“Loosely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosely. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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