Loosen meaning

What does “loosen” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“loosen” is a verb with 7 meanings. Its most common meaning is: make loose or looser.

loosen

make loose or looser
“loosen the tension on a rope”
Synonymsloose
Oppositesstiffen
make less severe or strict
“The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught”
Synonymsrelax
become less severe or strict
“The rules relaxed after the new director arrived”
Synonymsrelax
disentangle and raise the fibers of
“tease wool”
Synonymstease tease apart
cause to become loose
“undo the shoelace”
“untie the knot”
Synonymsuntie undo
make less dense
“loosen the soil”
become loose or looser or less tight
“The noose loosened”
“the rope relaxed”
Synonymsrelax loose
Oppositesstiffen

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University