It’s very common for someone to use a word incorrectly as there are many words that sound similar but mean very different things. To avoid embarrassing blunders (even for native English speakers), we’ve come up with a list of “confusing” words and an explanation of how to correctly use them. This time, we’ll tackle loose vs lose.
- The difference between loose and lose
- Synonyms of loose and lose
- Use loose and lose in a sentence
Loose vs. Lose: the difference
Loose
Is an adjective: A word that describes a person, place, thing, event, substance or quality.
Lose
Is a verb: A word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience.
Loose vs. Lose: the definitions
Loose
- If it’s not firmly held or fastened in place.
- Not fitting closely to the body (of clothes).
- When something is not tightly controlled, or not exact.
- Having low morals, sexually free.
- To speak or express emotions very freely, especially in an uncontrolled way.
- Not solid (watery)
Lose
- No longer have something because you do not know where it is.
- Have something or someone taken away from you.
- Stop feeling something.
- Have less of something that you had before.
- Get rid of something.
- Fail to succeed in a game, competition.
Loose vs. Lose: the synonyms
Loose
Synonyms for ‘loose’: Baggy, easy, sloppy, free, hanging, slack, unhooked, detached, disconnected, free.
Lose
Synonyms for ‘lose’ are: Drop, fail, forget, give up, suffer, waste, rob, miss, deplete, consume.
Loose vs. Lose: in a sentence
Loose
- A floorboard has come loose in the dining room.
- You’re not connected to the internet because there’s a loose connection in the plug.
- After the meeting, I was shocked to find a few loose sheets of paper with confidential information lying on the floor.
- Although the shoe was in my size, it was very loose.
- The movie is a loose adaptation of the short story written by Danny.
Lose
- Please lose the jacket as it makes you look so much older.
- My doctor said my health will improve if I lose weight.
- I lose two hours every morning stuck in traffic.
- I think it’s best to end our conversation before I lose my temper.
- We will have to lose half of our employees if this deal doesn’t go through.
- If I don’t run faster, I will lose the race.
