lose
Idioms about lose
Origin of lose
OTHER WORDS FROM lose
re·lose, verb (used with object), re·lost, re·los·ing.Words nearby lose
LOSE VS. LOOSE
What's the difference between lose and loose?
Lose is a verb most commonly meaning to fail to win or to misplace something, as in I hate to lose in chess or Don’t lose your key. Loose is most commonly used as an adjective meaning not tight or free or released from fastening, attachment, or restraint, as in a loose screw or Let him loose!
Lose ends with a z sound and rhymes with choose. Loose ends with an s sound and rhymes with moose.
One reason that the two words are sometimes confused is that loose can also be used as a verb, most commonly meaning to free something from a restraint, as in loose the cannons!
Perhaps the most common misuse of these words is when loose is used when lose should be. To remember the difference, remember this sentence: You could lose loose screws. (First comes the verb lose, with one o, followed by the adjective loose, with two o’s).
Here’s an example of lose and loose used correctly in a sentence.
Example: If you carry around loose cash, you could lose it—put it in your wallet.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between lose and loose.
Quiz yourself on lose vs. loose!
Should lose or loose be used in the following sentence?
I don’t want to _____ this game!