Lose vs Loose: Which One Do You Need?
Lose is a verb — to no longer have something. Loose is an adjective — not tight.
Do not lose your keys. The handle is loose.
The test that settles it
Count the letter O. One o and you are losing something. Two, and it is loose, which rhymes with goose.
They are not pronounced the same: lose ends in a Z sound, loose in an S sound.
Say the sentence aloud. If it ends with a Z, you need the one-O spelling.
Lose: the verb
To misplace something, to stop having it, or to be beaten. Its past tense is lost.
Try not to lose the receipt.
They will lose the match if they keep playing this way.
You could lose your deposit.
Swap in misplace or be beaten. If it works, lose is right.
Loose: the adjective
Not tight, not fastened, not contained. It describes something.
The screw has worked loose.
She wore a loose jacket.
A dog was running loose in the park.
Swap in slack or not tight. If it holds, loose is right.
Side by side
| Lose | Loose |
|---|---|
| Verb | Adjective |
| Rhymes with news | Rhymes with goose |
| Past tense lost | Comparative looser |
| Do not lose it. | It came loose. |
The exception
Loose can be a verb meaning to release — to loose an arrow, to loose a dog from its lead. It is uncommon outside writing with an old or literary flavour.
Do not confuse it with loosen, which means to make less tight and is far more usual.
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I always loose my umbrella. | I always lose my umbrella. | It is the verb, so one O. |
| The knot is lose. | The knot is loose. | It describes the knot, so two Os. |
| You have nothing to loose. | You have nothing to lose. | A fixed phrase, and the verb. |
| a lose end | a loose end | The adjective again. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- Be careful not to ___ your passport.
- The gate was left ___.
- We cannot afford to ___ another customer.
- These trousers have gone ___ around the waist.
- He hates to ___ an argument.
Show the answers
1. lose 2. loose 3. lose 4. loose 5. lose
Frequently asked
Is loosen related?
Yes, it is built on loose and means to make less tight. There is no verb losen.
Why is this mistake so common?
Because English usually doubles the vowel to lengthen it, so lose looks as though it should rhyme with rose. The spelling is simply irregular.
More words people confuse
