Commonly Confused
Loose vs Lose
What's the difference?
One extra 'o' changes everything. These two get swapped constantly — but they sound different and mean different things.
Quick answer
Loose (rhymes with goose) means not tight. Lose (rhymes with news) means to misplace something or to not win. Extra 'o' = loose.
Compared side by side
(adjective) not tight; not firmly held in place.
- “My shoelace is loose.”
- “The dog got loose in the yard.”
- “These trousers are a bit loose.”
(verb) to no longer have something, or to be defeated.
- “Don't lose your keys.”
- “We might lose the game.”
- “I always lose track of time.”
How to remember it
loose has two o's and plenty of room — it's not tight. lose has lost an 'o' — you lose things.
Frequently asked
How do I remember the spelling?
loose is roomy, with space for two o's (not tight). lose has lost one o — fitting, since you lose something.
Do they sound the same?
No. loose ends in a soft 's' sound (rhymes with goose); lose ends in a 'z' sound (rhymes with news). The spelling follows the sound.