To loosen means to make something less tight or less firmly fixed in place. When you loosen your shoelaces, you pull them to create more slack so your shoes feel more comfortable. When a carpenter loosens a screw, she turns it counterclockwise so it's easier to remove. After sitting for an hour, you might loosen your belt a notch or two.

The word also describes making rules, restrictions, or controls less strict. A teacher might loosen the classroom rules during the last week of school, allowing students more freedom. A coach might loosen the practice schedule before a big game so players stay fresh and energized.

You can also loosen things that aren't physical at all. Before running, athletes loosen their muscles by stretching. This helps prevent injuries and improves performance. When you're nervous before a presentation, taking deep breaths can help loosen the tension you feel in your shoulders and chest.

Loosen is the opposite of tighten. People sometimes confuse loosen with lose, but they're completely different: you loosen a rope by making it less tight, but you lose a rope when you can't find it.