Word

loosen, v.
(loosened, loosening, loosens)
freq. cnt. 5

make loose or looser
<verb.change> freq. cnt.: 5 freq. cnt.: 5

loose loosen

sample sentences

"loosen the tension on a rope"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

loosening loosening

antonym

stiffen

semantic pointers

hypernym

change, alter, modify

cause

relax, loosen, loose

hyponym

relax, unbend slacken, remit slack unscrew unscrew

become loose or looser or less tight
<verb.change> freq. cnt.: 3 freq. cnt.: 3

loose loosen relax

sample sentences

"The noose loosened"
"the rope relaxed"

verb frames

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

verb frames

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

verb frames

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

relaxation

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

loosening loosening

antonym

stiffen

semantic pointers

hypernym

weaken

make less dense
<verb.contact>

loosen

sample sentences

"loosen the soil"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

semantic pointers

hypernym

change, alter, modify

hyponym

scarify ruffle, fluff

cause to become loose
<verb.contact>

loosen undo untie

sample sentences

"undo the shoelace"
"untie the knot"
"loosen the necktie"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

untying untier

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

undoing undoer

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

loosening

semantic pointers

hypernym

change, alter, modify

disentangle and raise the fibers of
<verb.contact>

loosen tease tease apart

sample sentences

"tease wool"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

teaser teaser

semantic pointers

hypernym

disentangle, straighten out, unsnarl

become less severe or strict
<verb.social>

loosen relax

sample sentences

"The rules relaxed after the new director arrived"

verb frames

Something ----s

verb frames

Something ----s

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

relaxation

semantic pointers

hypernym

change

verb group

relax, loosen

make less severe or strict
<verb.social>

loosen relax

sample sentences

"The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught"

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

verb frames

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

lexical pointers

derivationally related form

relaxation

semantic pointers

hypernym

change, alter, modify

verb group

relax, loosen