loose

UK: /ˈluːs/ US: /lus/ ,(lo̅o̅s)

Inflections of 'loose' (adj):

looser

adj comparative

loosest

adj superlative

Inflections of 'loose' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

looses

v 3rd person singular

loosing

v pres p

loosed

v past

loosed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

loose /lus/   adj., loos•er, loos•est, adv., v., loosed, loos•ing. 
adj. 

1. free or released from being fastened or attached:
   a loose rope; a loose tooth.
2. free from confinement or restraint:
   The loose papers flew off his desk.
3. not fitting closely or tightly:
   a loose sweater.
4. relaxed or limber in nature:
   to run with a loose, open stride.
5. not close or tight in structure or arrangement:
   a cloth with a loose weave.
6. allowing freedom for independent action:
   a loose federation of city-states.
7. not strict, exact, or precise:
   a loose interpretation of the law.
8. unable to be held in check:
   a loose tongue.
9. sexually immoral;
   dissolute:
   loose living.

adv. 

10. in a loose manner;
    loosely (often used in combination):
    loose-fitting.

v. [~ + object]

11. to let loose;
    set free:
    He loosed the animals from the house.
12. to unfasten:
    to loose a boat from its moorings.
13. to shoot;
    discharge;
    let fly:
    to loose missiles at the invaders.

Idioms

14. Idioms break loose, [no object] to free oneself;
    escape:
    The circus animals broke loose.
15. Idioms cast loose, [~ + object + loose] to unfasten;
    set adrift;
    free:
    He cast the boat loose.
16. Idioms cut loose, [no object] to behave wildly;
    carouse:
    The team needed to cut loose after all that tension.
17. Idioms,, Slang Terms hang or stay loose, [no object] [Informal.] to remain relaxed and calm.
18. Idioms let loose:
    • [~ + object + loose] to free:
      The children were let loose to run around.
    • [no object] to yield;
      give way:
      The guardrail let loose and the bus plunged down the canyon.
    • Idioms [no object] to speak or act with unrestricted freedom:
      to let loose with a few swearwords.
19. Idioms on the loose, free;
    unconfined:
    Several escaped convicts were on the loose.
20. Idioms turn or set loose, [~ + object + loose] to free from confinement:
    turned the prisoners loose one by one.

loose•ly, adv. 
loose•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

loose  (lo̅o̅s), adj., loos•er, loos•est, adv., v. loosed, loos•ing. 
adj. 

1. free or released from fastening or attachment:
   a loose end.
2. free from anything that binds or restrains;
   unfettered:
   loose cats prowling around in alleyways at night.
3. Chemistry uncombined, as a chemical element.
4. not bound together:
   to wear one's hair loose.
5. not put up in a package or other container:
   loose mushrooms.
6. available for disposal;
   unused;
   unappropriated:
   loose funds.
7. lacking in reticence or power of restraint:
   a loose tongue.
8. lax, as the bowels.
9. lacking moral restraint or integrity;
   notorious for his loose character.
10. sexually promiscuous or immoral;
    unchaste.
11. not firm, taut, or rigid:
    a loose tooth; a loose rein.
12. relaxed or limber in nature:
    He runs with a loose, open stride.
13. not fitting closely or tightly:
    a loose sweater.
14. not close or compact in structure or arrangement;
    having spaces between the parts;
    open:
    a loose weave.
15. having few restraining factors between associated constituents and allowing ample freedom for independent action:
    a loose federation of city-states.
16. not cohering:
    loose sand.
17. not strict, exact, or precise:
    a loose interpretation of the law.
18. Sport
    • having the players on a team positioned at fairly wide intervals, as in a football formation.
    • (of a ball, hockey puck, etc.) not in the possession of either team;
      out of player control.
19. hang or stay loose, [Slang.] to remain relaxed and unperturbed.
20. Idioms on the loose:
    • free;
      unconfined, as, esp., an escaped convict or circus animal.
    • behaving in an unrestrained or dissolute way:
      a bachelor on the loose.

adv. 

21. in a loose manner;
    loosely (usually used in combination):
    loose-flowing.
22. Idioms break loose, to free oneself;
    escape:
    The convicts broke loose.
23. Idioms cast loose:
    • to loosen or unfasten, as a ship from a mooring.
    • to send forth;
      set adrift or free:
      He was cast loose at an early age to make his own way in the world.
24. Idioms cut loose:
    • to release from domination or control.
    • to become free, independent, etc.
    • to revel without restraint:
      After the rodeo they headed into town to cut loose.
25. Idioms let loose:
    • to free or become free.
    • to yield;
      give way:
      The guardrail let loose and we very nearly plunged over the edge.
26. Idioms turn loose, to release or free, as from confinement:
    The teacher turned the children loose after the class.

v.t. 

27. to let loose;
    free from bonds or restraint.
28. to release, as from constraint, obligation, or penalty.
29. Nautical, Naval Terms [Chiefly Naut.] to set free from fastening or attachment:
    to loose a boat from its moorings.
30. to unfasten, undo, or untie, as a bond, fetter, or knot.
31. to shoot;
    discharge;
    let fly:
    to loose missiles at the invaders.
32. to make less tight;
    slacken or relax.
33. to render less firmly fixed;
    lessen an attachment;
    loosen.

v.i. 

34. to let go a hold.
35. Nautical, Naval Terms to hoist anchor;
    get under way.
36. to shoot or let fly an arrow, bullet, etc. (often fol. by off):
    to loose off at a flock of ducks.
37. [Obs.] to become loose;
    loosen.

• Old Norse lauss loose, free, empty; cognate with Old English lēas (see -less), Dutch, German los loose, free; (verb, verbal) Middle English leowsen, lousen, derivative of the adjective, adjectival
• (adjective, adjectival) Middle English los, loos 1175–1225

loose′ly, adv. 
loose′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. unbound, untied, unrestricted, unconfined.
• 10. libertine, dissolute, licentious.
• 17. vague, general, indefinite.
• 27. loosen, unbind.
• 28. liberate.
• 32. ease.

Antonyms

• 1. bound.
• 10. chaste.
• 32. tighten.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

loose / luːs/ adjective

1. free or released from confinement or restraint
2. not close, compact, or tight in structure or arrangement
3. not fitted or fitting closely: loose clothing is cooler
4. not bundled, packaged, fastened, or put in a container: loose nails
5. inexact; imprecise: a loose translation
6. (of funds, cash, etc) not allocated or locked away; readily available
7. (esp of women) willing to engage in casual sexual activity
8. (of attitudes, ways of life, etc) immoral or dissolute
9. lacking a sense of responsibility or propriety: loose talk
10. (of the bowels) emptying easily, esp excessively; lax
11. (of a cough) accompanied by phlegm, mucus, etc
12. (of a dye or dyed article) fading as a result of washing; not fast
13. very relaxed; easy

noun

1. the loose ⇒ the part of play when the forwards close round the ball in a ruck or loose scrum
   See scrum
2. on the loose ⇒ free from confinement or restraint
3. on a spree

adverb

1. in a loose manner; loosely
2. (in combination): loose-fitting
3. hang loose ⇒ to behave in a relaxed, easy fashion

verb

1. (transitive) to set free or release, as from confinement, restraint, or obligation
2. (transitive) to unfasten or untie
3. to make or become less strict, tight, firmly attached, compact, etc
4. when intr, often followed by off: to let fly (a bullet, arrow, or other missile)

Etymology: 13th Century (in the sense: not bound): from Old Norse lauss free; related to Old English lēas free from, -less

ˈloosely adverb

ˈlooseness noun