loosely

adverb

loose·​ly ˈlüs-lē How to pronounce loosely (audio)
Synonyms of looselynext
: in a loose manner
loosely attached
a collection of loosely connected stories
His shoes are set tidily together in a corner with his socks draped loosely across them.—Felix Carroll
Texting freed a generation from the strictures and inconvenience (and awkwardness) of phone calls, while allowing people to be more loosely and constantly connected.—Jenna Wortham
The novel is loosely based on the life of Georgia O'Keeffe.
Loosely translated from Japanese, umami means delicious or yummy.—N. Seppa

Examples of loosely in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Furious, a thriller about a female FBI agent tracking a female serial killer loosely inspired by the 1987 movie Black Widow, was not the most obvious next step for her. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026 After all, the look thrives on the lengths falling loosely and moving with every gesture. — Lucy Binder, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2026 Cover loosely with cloths and let rise again; when dough has risen, place pans in preheated 350-degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until tops of loaves are light brown. — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 Guests—defined loosely as anyone from a random hookup to Julia Fox to a surprisingly chill raccoon—drop by the house with regularity, creating a zippy blend of the mundane and the serendipitous. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loosely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loosely was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing loosely

Rhymes for loosely

See All Rhymes for loosely

Browse Nearby Words

loose-lipped
loosely
loosely base on
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Cite this Entry

“Loosely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosely. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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