Confusable words

loose vs lose: what's the difference?

loose
adjective
vs
lose
verb
? ?

Loose and lose are spelled almost the same and get typed for each other constantly, even though they aren't even close in pronunciation.

Loose

adjective

Loose is an adjective describing something not tight or not firmly attached.

  • These jeans are a bit loose on me.
  • One of the screws on the chair is loose.

Lose

verb

Lose is a verb meaning to no longer have something, or to fail to win.

  • Don't lose your keys again.
  • They lost the game in the final minute.

Side by side

loose lose
Part of speech Adjective Verb
Sounds like "loose" rhymes with goose "lose" rhymes with choose
Simple test "a loose thread" describes something "I lost my phone" describes an action

Quick rule

Loose, rhyming with goose, describes something not tight. Lose, rhyming with choose, means to no longer have something.

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