What does loosen mean?
Word: Loosen
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Loosen means to make something less tight, such as a knot, a belt or a lid.
Synonyms: slacken, undo
Antonyms: tighten
How do you spell loosen?
Syllables: loos - en
Tricky part: It is made from loose, so it keeps the two o's and the s; only the e at the end of loose drops out.
Watch out for: lossen, loozen, losen
Memory tip: Think of the two o's as two buttons on a tight collar. To loosen it, you undo them, but they stay on the shirt.
Loosen in a sentence
Example 1: Please loosen your shoelaces before you pull off your shoes.
Example 2: Papa had to loosen the lid of the pickle jar with a cloth.
Example 3: After the big lunch, Uncle loosened his belt a little.
Fun Fact
Loosen grew from loose, which came into English from the Old Norse word lauss, meaning free.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
loo___
a) son
b) sin
c) sen
d) sun
Show answer
c) sen. The ending is en, as in the word open.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
Grandma asked me to loosen the knot in her shawl befor we left.
a) loosen and befor
b) only befor
c) only loosen
d) knot and shawl
Show answer
b) only befor. Before ends in e; loosen is spelt correctly here.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
sonelo
a) to become smaller or weaker
b) to fail to find something
c) to make a knot or screw not so tight
d) to make something tighter
Show answer
c) to make a knot or screw not so tight. Once sorted, the six letters give loosen.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
After the race, Adam sat down to ______ the strap of his watch.
a) loosen
b) lesson
c) listen
d) lessen
Show answer
a) loosen. Only loosen goes with a strap here; lessen, listen and lesson do not make sense.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. You might loosen the soil in a flowerpot so that ___.
a) the roots can grow easily
b) the pot looks shiny
c) the plant stops growing
d) the water turns blue
Show answer
a) the roots can grow easily
2. Which tool helps you loosen a stiff nut?
a) a stapler
b) a rubber
c) a ruler
d) a spanner
Show answer
d) a spanner
