Confusing Words

Loose vs. Lose

When we read out these two words, Loose and Lose, their phonics feel similar. But when we talk about the meaning of these words, they are entirely different from each other. This article will give some insight into words, loose vs. lose, and compare their meanings with suitable examples. The word ‘loose’ is an adjective and is used in places where things or objects are not bound closely.

For example, a loose t-shirt, a loose tooth, loose shoes. You can use this word as a verb also. If you use it as a verb, its meaning will be set free or release. Example, ‘She left her dog loose in the house’. The word ‘loose’ is also used as a noun. Example, ‘The prisoner escaped and is still on the loose’. Another example, ‘the boat comes loose from its anchors’. The word ‘loose’ is also used as an adverb.

We can use the word ‘lose’ mainly as a verb. When we are unable to find something we use the word lose. Example, I lose my keys. Another meaning of word lose is when we are unable to believe in someone. Example, ‘I lose my faith in him and I do not trust him anymore.’ We will see some more examples of words loose vs. lose in the rest of the article.

loose vs. lose

                                                                                                       loose vs. lose

Difference Between Loose and Lose

We can use the word loose as a noun, adjective, adverb and verb. This shows that according to the situation, the meaning of the word is being changed. Whereas we can use the word lose in verb form only. We use the word Loose majorly as an adjective. Here we will elaborate more on the meaning of the word loose with suitable examples. When the object is not fastened properly then in such condition we use the word loose. For example, ‘the belt is loose, tight it’. When we describe the skin of old people we can use the word loose.

For example, ‘My granny’s skin is getting loose day by day’. If we are not able to contain or physically held back, we use ‘loose’ as an adjective. For example, ‘My pet was wandering loose in the streets and caught up with an accident’. The word loose do not have much use as a noun but being used as adverb and verb, apart from its use as an adjective.

On the other hand, we can use lose when we are deprived of something. For example, ‘If the factory closes permanently then all the workers will lose their jobs’. Lose word can be used when we want something to reduce or it is reduced unexpectedly. In the first situation, where we want to reduce something intentionally, for example, ‘I want to lose my weight’ and in other situation, we use it as ‘In an accident, he did not lose his leg’.

For example, ‘I would lose my cap because I was not paying attention.’ Or ‘To lose one’s temper is to admit defeat in the game’. Also, when we do not have something or someone permanently, we use this word. For example, ‘She would lose her headphones in the bus’ or ‘He may lose his job next month, that’s why he has started searching a new job.’

Get a huge list of 100+ Confusing Words here

How to Use Loose?

As an Adjective:

  1. Incorrect: He likes lose clothing.

Correct: He likes loose clothing.

  1. Incorrect: She likes to walk on lose sandy soil.

Correct: She likes to walk on loose sandy soil

  1. Incorrect: Collect these lose sheets of papers.

Correct: Collect these loose sheets of papers.

As a Noun:

  1. Incorrect: She is pretending like a lose woman, but she is an undercover officer.

Correct: She is pretending like a loose woman, but she is an undercover officer.

  1. Incorrect: A culprit of murder is on the

Correct: A culprit of murder is on the loose.

As an Adverb:

  1. Incorrect: These clothes fit a bit lose to you.

Correct: These clothes fit a bit loose to you.

As a Verb:

  1. Incorrect: She asked her mother to let lose the knot.

Correct: She asked her mother to let loose the knot.

  1. Incorrect: She asked her servant to let lose the dog.

Correct: She asked her servant to let loose the dog.

How to Use Lose?

As a Verb:

  1. Incorrect: I loose my appetite due to this disease.

Correct: I will lose my appetite due to this disease.

  1. Incorrect: I loose my car keys in a duct.

Correct:  I lost my car keys in a duct.

Examples of LOOSE – Using LOOSE in a Sentence

  1. Don’t talk loose (adjective), you are told to collect all the loose (noun) items until I return from the market.
  2. These loose (adjective) shoes can’t be worn.
  3. Loose (adjective) clothes fit loosely (adverb) to a skinny person.

Examples of LOSE – Using LOSE in a Sentence

  1. Do not lose time, it will never come back.
  2. I lose my home keys in the garden while jogging.

Hope now you find it easy to tell the difference between loose vs. lose.

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