on the loose
idiom
: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s another new COVID-19 variant on the loose and spreading.
—
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Meanwhile, the suspect, who exited the bus after the shooting and hitchhiked to the area of Mound and Davison, is still on the loose, police say.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 2 July 2025
Lindy Ryan's new horror novel, Dollface, will be published in early 2026
The book follows a horror author who moves to a small town, only to learn that a masked serial killer is on the loose
Read an exclusive excerpt from Dollface here
Need a terrifying new read?
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 30 June 2025
The assailant took off after the incident and remains on the loose.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the loose
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Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Meanwhile, the suspect, who exited the bus after the shooting and hitchhiked to the area of Mound and Davison, is still on the loose, police say.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 2 July 2025
Lindy Ryan's new horror novel, Dollface, will be published in early 2026
The book follows a horror author who moves to a small town, only to learn that a masked serial killer is on the loose
Read an exclusive excerpt from Dollface here
Need a terrifying new read?
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 30 June 2025
The assailant took off after the incident and remains on the loose.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the loose
Cite this Entry
“On the loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20loose. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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