How to Use loosen in a Sentence

loosen

verb
  • He used a spade to loosen the soil.
  • She loosened the cake from the sides of the pan.
  • One of the screws had loosened a bit and had to be tightened.
  • When the meeting was over he loosened his tie.
  • After eating so much I had to loosen my belt.
  • Each generation seems to loosen the established standards of behavior.
  • Standards of behavior seem to be loosening everywhere.
  • To loosen my grip on old goals.
    — Marisa McMillan, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The day, and my mind, start to loosen.
    — Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Ray’s hand loosens its grip on the weapon.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The jostling loosens her ties enough to make her drop.
    — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Play loosens the grip of judgment.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Use the rake to loosen the top layer of soil.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Something in the earth seemed to loosen its grip.
    — Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
  • This will loosen any bits on the bottom of the oven.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2026
  • This will loosen any bits on the bottom of the oven.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
  • This will loosen any bits on the bottom of the oven.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Use your wrench to loosen the bolt and remove it.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
  • This ensures the twists won't loosen and fall out.
    — Amira Rasool, InStyle, 8 June 2026
  • Then take your socket wrench and loosen the drain plug.
    — Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Rinse the seeds in cold water to help loosen the strands.
    — Johna Burdeos, Health, 19 Sep. 2025
  • If the plant is root-bound, gently loosen the roots.
    — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
  • This will help loosen any grease and debris built up in the grates.
    — Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2023
  • Steam loosens any dirt on the floor, even working up sticky residue.
    — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Turn off the oven and keep the door closed so the warmth and steam can loosen grime.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
  • Direct the steam at the oven walls, floor, and door to loosen grime.
    — Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Use a garden fork to loosen the soil around the carrots.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Use a garden fork to loosen the soil around the carrots.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 June 2026
  • As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, run a thin knife around the edges to loosen it.
    — Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Dec. 2021
  • Move to a cool place, loosen clothes, drink cool liquids, and take a cool bath.
    — Marty Munson, Men's Health, 11 July 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loosen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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