Unloose

//(ˌ)ʌnˈluːs// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To loosen or undo (something that entangles, fastens, holds, or interlocks). also, figuratively, transitive

    "Turne him to any Cauſe of Pollicy, / The Gordian Knot of it he will vnlooſe, / Familiar as his Garter: […]"

  2. 2
    loosen the ties of wordnet
  3. 3
    To relax or slacken (something that clasps or grips, such as the arms or hands). also, figuratively, transitive
  4. 4
    grant freedom to; free from confinement wordnet
  5. 5
    To free (someone or something) from a constraint; (figuratively) to release (something which has been suppressed, such as emotions or objectionable things). transitive

    "Then Yorke vnlooſe thy long impriſoned thoughts, / And let thy tongue be equall with thy heart."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    To remove or take off (especially something undesirable). archaic, transitive
  2. 7
    To become loose or come off. intransitive
  3. 8
    To free from a constraint. also, figuratively, intransitive

Synonyms

All synonyms
liberatelooseunloosendetachcast offdisengage

Example

More examples

"He sprang up and rushed across the stable to unloose the dog."

Etymology

From Middle English unlosen (“to loosen, untie; to uncover, unwrap; to extend; to free, liberate, release; to disengage; to detach oneself; to make (someone) weak; to abolish; to destroy”) [and other forms], from un- (intensifying prefix) + losen (“to free, let loose, release; to loosen, untie; to come undone or unfastened; to open; to relax; to remove; to melt; to resolve; to break up, disintegrate; to detach, disengage; to destroy; to say, tell; to absolve of sin”) (from los (“free; loose, untied; exempt; absolved of sin; inattentive, undisciplined; of the tongue: lacking restraint, unbridled; limp, weak; wavering”), from Old Norse lauss (“loose”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewH- (“to separate; to set free; to untie”)). The English word is analysable as un- (intensifying prefix) + loose. Compare Middle English unlesen (“to loosen, release”), from Old English onlīesan (“to release, deliver, liberate, unloose”).

More for "unloose"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.