loose
adjective
not tight or firmly fixed
“This screw is loose.”
Easily mixed meanings
loose vs lose
Lose (one o) means to misplace or fail to win; loose (two o's) means not tight.
lose
verb
to misplace; to fail to win
“Don't lose your ticket.”
Try it: which word fits?
Drop each word into the blank. The explanation tells you why one works and the other doesn't.
If we ______ this game, we are out.
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Questions about loose vs lose
What is the difference between loose and lose?
Lose (one o) means to misplace or fail to win; loose (two o's) means not tight.
How do I remember loose vs lose?
Lose lost an o. Loose has room to spare, like loose clothing.
Are there exceptions?
"Loose" can be a verb meaning to set free ("loose the dogs"), but that is rare; the misspelling "loose" for "lose" is far more common.
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