loosely B2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈluːsli/ See IPA manual Freq #22865 Meanings 1 adv In a way that is not tight or firmly fixed. Insert all the bolts loosely, then tighten them later. 2 adv In a way that is not exact or detailed. The film is loosely based on a true story. 3 adv In a relaxed manner. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders. Thesaurus Synonyms 2 adv · in a way that is not exact... generally 3 adv · in a relaxed manner. slackly ↔ Opposites tightly Word family Derived forms loosely-typed Common collocations loosely knit Adverb + adjective Etymology AI details From Middle English lously; equivalent to loose + -ly. lously Middle English View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # loosely **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /ˈluːsli/ **Frequency rank:** 22865 ## Meanings 1. In a way that is not tight or firmly fixed. 2. In a way that is not exact or detailed. 3. In a relaxed manner. ## Examples - Insert all the bolts loosely, then tighten them later. - The film is loosely based on a true story. - Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders. ## Antonyms - tightly ## Derived Forms - loosely-typed ## Roots and Affixes - Root: lously ## Etymology From Middle English lously; equivalent to loose + -ly. ## AI Etymology Loosely comes from Middle English lously; equivalent to loose + -ly. In present-day English its meanings include in a way that is not tight or firmly fixed, in a way that is not exact or detailed, and in a relaxed manner. Related and derived forms include loosely-typed. ## Topics - Describing Qualities markdown