Loose vs. Lose

Main Difference
The main difference between loose and lose is that the loose is an adjective that means “not tight” and lose is a verb that means “to free oneself from something or someone, to fail to win, or to misplace.”

Difference Between Loose and Lose

Loose vs. Lose

Loose is an adjective that means not bound together, not tight, or not fitting closely or tightly whereas lose is a verb that means “to misplace, to free oneself from something or someone or to fail to win.”

Loose vs. Lose

The word loose has an additional alphabet O (double ‘O’) conversely the word lose only has a single O.

Loose vs. Lose

The adjective and verb loose mean to release something from restraints and set it free on the flip side. The verb lose means to get deprived of something.

Loose vs. Lose

‘Loose’ rhymes with a goose, on the other hand, lose rhymes with snooze when said aloud.

Loose vs. Lose

The antonyms of loose are "tight" or "contained while the antonyms of lose are “get, achieve, etc.”

Looseverb

(transitive) To let loose, to free from restraints.

Loseverb

(transitive) To cause (something) to cease to be in one's possession or capability due to unfortunate or unknown circumstances, events or reasons.

If you lose that ten-pound note, you'll be sorry.He lost his hearing in the explosion.She lost her position when the company was taken over.

Looseverb

(transitive) To unfasten, to loosen.

Loseverb

To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to find; to go astray from.

I lost my way in the forest.

Looseverb

(transitive) To make less tight, to loosen.

Loseverb

(transitive) To have (an organ) removed from one's body, especially by accident.

Johnny lost a tooth, but kept it for the tooth fairy.He lost his spleen in a car wreck.

Looseverb

(intransitive) Of a grip or hold, to let go.

Loseverb

(transitive) To fail to win (a game, competition, trial, etc).

We lost the football match.

Looseverb

(archery) to shoot (an arrow)

Loseverb

(transitive) To shed (weight).

I’ve lost five pounds this week.

Looseverb

(obsolete) To set sail.

Loseverb

(transitive) To be unable to follow or trace (somebody or something) any longer.

The policeman lost the robber he was chasing.Mission control lost the satellite as its signal died down.

Looseverb

(obsolete) To solve; to interpret.

Loseverb

(transitive) To cause (somebody) to be unable to follow or trace one any longer.

We managed to lose our pursuers in the forest.

Looseadjective

Not fixed in place tightly or firmly.

This wheelbarrow has a loose wheel.

Loseverb

(transitive) To experience the death of (someone to whom one has an attachment, such as a relative or friend).

She lost all her sons in the war.

Looseadjective

Not held or packaged together.

You can buy apples in a pack, but they are cheaper loose.

Loseverb

(transitive) To cease exhibiting; to overcome (a behavior or emotion).

Looseadjective

Not under control.

The dog is loose again.

Loseverb

To shed, remove, discard, or eliminate.

When we get into the building, please lose the hat.

Looseadjective

Not fitting closely

I wear loose clothes when it is hot.

Loseverb

Of a clock, to run slower than expected.

My watch loses five minutes a week.It's already 5:30? My watch must have lost a few minutes.

Looseadjective

Not compact.

It is difficult walking on loose gravel.a cloth of loose texture

Loseverb

To cause (someone) the loss of something; to deprive of.

Looseadjective

Relaxed.

She danced with a loose flowing movement.

Loseverb

To fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss.

I lost a part of what he said.

Looseadjective

Not precise or exact; vague; indeterminate.

a loose way of reasoning

Loseverb

To cause to part with; to deprive of.

Looseadjective

Indiscreet.

Loose talk costs lives.

Losenoun

(obsolete) Fame, renown; praise.

Looseadjective

(dated) Free from moral restraint; immoral, unchaste.

Loseverb

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense;

She lost her purse when she left it unattended on her seat

Looseadjective

Not being in the possession of any competing team during a game.

He caught an elbow going after a loose ball.The puck was momentarily loose right in front of the net.

Loseverb

fail to win;

We lost the battle but we won the war

Looseadjective

(dated) Not costive; having lax bowels.

Loseverb

suffer the loss of a person through death or removal;

She lost her husband in the warThe couple that wanted to adopt the child lost her when the biological parents claimed her

Loosenoun

(archery) The release of an arrow.

Loseverb

place (something) where one cannot find it again;

I misplaced my eyeglasses

Loosenoun

(obsolete) A state of laxity or indulgence; unrestrained freedom, abandonment.

Loseverb

miss from one's possessions; lose sight of;

I've lost my glasses again!

Loosenoun

(rugby) All play other than set pieces (scrums and line-outs).

Loseverb

allow to go out of sight;

The detective lost the man he was shadowing after he had to stop at a red light

Loosenoun

Freedom from restraint.

Loseverb

fail to make money in a business; make a loss or fail to profit;

I lost thousands of dollars on that bad investment!The company turned a loss after the first yearThe company has not profited from the merger

Loosenoun

A letting go; discharge.

Loseverb

fail to get or obtain;

I lost the opportunity to spend a year abroad

Looseinterjection

(archery) begin shooting; release your arrows

Loseverb

retreat

Looseverb

grant freedom to; free from confinement

Loseverb

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind;

I missed that remarkShe missed his pointWe lost part of what he said

Looseverb

turn loose or free from restraint;

let loose minesLoose terrible plagues upon humanity

Loseverb

be set at a disadvantage;

This author really suffers in translation

Looseverb

make loose or looser;

loosen the tension on a rope

Looseverb

become loose or looser or less tight;

The noose loosenedthe rope relaxed

Looseadjective

not restrained or confined or attached;

a pocket full of loose billsknocked the ball loosegot loose from his attacker

Looseadjective

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement;

loose gravel

Looseadjective

(of a ball in sport) not in the possession or control of any player;

a loose ball

Looseadjective

not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting;

loose clothingthe large shoes were very loose

Looseadjective

not officially recognized or controlled;

an informal agreementa loose organization of the local farmers

Looseadjective

not literal;

a loose interpretation of what she had been tolda free translation of the poem

Looseadjective

emptying easily or excessively;

loose bowels

Looseadjective

not affixed;

the stamp came loose

Looseadjective

not tense or taut;

the old man's skin hung loose and grayslack and wrinkled skinslack sailsa slack rope

Looseadjective

(of textures) full of small openings or gaps;

an open texturea loose weave

Looseadjective

not fixed firmly or tightly;

the bolts became loose over timea loose chair legloose bricks

Looseadjective

lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility;

idle talka loose tongue

Looseadjective

not carefully arranged in a package;

a box of loose nails

Looseadjective

freely producing mucus;

a loose phlegmy cough

Looseadjective

having escaped, especially from confinement;

a convict still at largesearching for two escaped prisonersdogs loose on the streetscriminals on the loose in the neighborhood

Looseadjective

casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior;

her easy virtuehe was told to avoid loose (or light) womenwanton behavior

Looseadjective

not bound or fastened or gathered together;

loose pagesloose papers

Looseadverb

without restraint;

cows in India are running loose

Comparison Chart

Loose	Lose
An adjective that means “not tight.” or A verb that to set free, release from fastenings or restraints	A verb that means “to free oneself from something or someone, to fail to win, or to misplace
Alphabetic Difference
Addition of an extra O	The omission of an O
Rhymes with
Goose	Snooze
Antonyms
Tight, contained	Get, achieve

Loose vs. Lose

The words loose and lose are sometimes mixed up in writing. But both the words have different connotative and denotative meaning. They are used differently in different contexts. Loose is an adjective, meaning “not tight.” Lose is a verb meaning to misplace, to free oneself from something or someone or to fail to win. The alphabet O distinguishes loose from lose. The adjective and verb loose mean to release something from restraints and set it free. The verb ‘lose’ means to be deprived of something. ‘Loose’ rhymes with goose. Lose rhymes with snooze when said aloud. Loose is the opposite of contained or tight. Lose means “to suffer the loss of, to miss.” It is the opposite of “get, achieve, etc.” The examples of loose are my pajamas are loose, she has a loose tooth, a cat is running loose in the street. The examples of lose are you need to lose some weight; I wish I do not lose this tooth. He never loses bets.

What is Loose?

The word ‘loose’ functions as an adjective as well as a verb. Loose as an adjective, means compact or dense, not firmly or tightly held in place, or not and free from restraint or confinement. When acting as a verb, loose means to set free, release from fastenings or restraints and to undo. Loose rhymes with goose and moose. It is almost used as an adjective. It also means “free from restraints or binds, not bound together, or not fitting closely or tightly.” It also refers to something that is not very strict, or that is relaxed or limber.

Examples

The cat runs loose in the street.
I have a loose tooth.
Drive slowly on this loose gravel road.
She let her hair hang
The trousers were loose on me, so I bought the next size down.
Can you tight this? It’s loose.
I have a loose idea of going to a picnic tomorrow, but things could change.

What is Lose?

The word lose functions as a verb. The common meanings of the verb lose are “to be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something one once had); become unable to find (someone or something); to fail to win, or to fail to use or take advantage of.” Lose describes when you “come to be without something” (e.g., to lose a cap in the laundry) or “to suffer defeat” (e.g., to lose a game). Its spelling might give an impression that it rhymes with hose and chose, but it rhymes with choose and shoes. The S in loose has a Z sound. Lose has a Z sound to it when said aloud. It rhymes with snooze and choose. The phrase “to lose” expresses no longer having something. It may also be used when you can not find anything.