on the loose

phrase

: able to move freely : not controlled or held in a prison, cage, etc.
—used especially to describe a dangerous person, animal, or group
The prisoner escaped and is still on the loose.
A killer is on the loose.
An angry mob was on the loose.

Examples of on the loose in a Sentence

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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.
With Blauvelt's killer still on the loose, her family begged for answers. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 Outlaw was captured last month with the help of professional horsemen after spending 66 days on the loose. — Cbs Baltimore, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (15 saves) pounced on the loose puck, just one of the highlights of his ninth career shutout. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 In the meantime, however, the department issued a serious public advisory warning residents that the reptile was on the loose and including the image. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for on the loose

Rhymes for on the loose

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Browse Nearby Words

on the lookout for
on the loose
on the make
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Cite this Entry

“On the loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20loose. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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