Lose vs. Loose

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Understanding the difference between commonly confused words will help you avoid making errors in English usage. Let’s examine the difference between the following:

lose

To lose means to be deprived of, to cease to have, to fail to win, or to misplace something. Lose is a verb only. The s in lose is pronounced like a z.

Belinda was devastated to lose her job during the recession.
Many of us are trying to lose weight.

loose

As a verb, loose means to set free or release from restraints. As an adjective, loose means not fixed in place, untied, free from confinement, or not fitting tightly. The s in loose is pronounced as an s.

Patty loosed her dog from the leash and let him run free in the park.

The screws were a bit loose so I tightened them.
This woman’s pants are too loose.

☛ To remember to spell the verb lose with one o, relate it to the word lost, which also has one o. If you lose something, it is lost. Think of the two o’s in the adjective loose as like two wedding rings. If one ring (or o) is loose and drops off, you lose a ring and are left with the verb lose.

Photo credits:

Photo 1: Image by Nancy Mure from Pixabay

Photo 2: Image by Daniel Dan outsideclick from Pixabay