let loose

idiom

: to allow (someone or something) to move or go freely

He let the dogs loose in the courtyard.

cattle let loose to graze on the green fields

—often used figuratively

a director who's willing to let her actors loose to interpret their roles however they see fit

how to stop the violence that has been let loose on the city

: to produce (something, such as a cry) in a sudden and forceful way

The crowd let loose an enormous groan when the pass was intercepted.

She let loose (with) a scream.

Examples of let loose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This felt like an opportunity to really let loose in a way that just wasn’t part of my human experience. —

Jen Chaney, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2024 Back then, no one knew what demons would be let loose by the end of East-West competition. —

Michael McFaul, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2014 At least two bodies were found in a swollen waterway in Oregon after extreme rains let loose on the state. —

Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2024 Curb’s ninth season hits its stride on the strength of Leon being let loose to aid and abet his septuagenarian friend. —

Larry Fitzmaurice, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for let loose

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'let loose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.