Lose vs. Loose
“Lose” is a verb meaning to no longer have, fail to keep, or be unable to find something; its past tense and past participle are “lost.” “Loose” is most commonly an adjective meaning not tight or not firmly attached, though Cambridge also records verb uses. Their mainstream UK/US pronunciations differ in the final sound: lose /luːz/, loose /luːs/.
Use “lose” when you mean no longer have, misplace, or fail to keep. Use “loose” for something not tight/attached. Remember that “loose” can also be a verb in less common senses, so “lose=verb, loose=adjective only” is not an absolute rule.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| no longer have, misplace, or fail to keep | lose | Use the verb “lose.” |
| not tight, attached, or firmly fixed | loose | Use the adjective “loose.” |
| release/set free in less common verb use | loose | The verb “loose” exists, but it is not a substitute for “lose.” |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Do you mean “no longer have” or “fail to keep”?
If yes: Use “lose.”
If no: Use “loose” when the intended meaning is not tight/attached, or in its separate less-common verb senses.
Caveat: Do not reduce the distinction to “lose is always a verb and loose is always an adjective”; “loose” also has verb uses.
Examples
Do not lose your keys.
“Lose” is the verb meaning no longer have or misplace.
The handle is loose.
“Loose” is the adjective meaning not tight or firmly fixed.
The dog got loose from its lead.
“Loose” describes being free or not restrained.
Further guidance
Inflection Boundary
Lose is irregular: lose → lost → lost. The common adjective loose instead forms comparative/superlative looser/loosest; separate verb loose has regular loosed/loosing forms.
Meaning Boundary
Lose commonly means no longer have or be unable to find. Loose commonly describes something not tight or not firmly attached.
Pronunciation Boundary
Cambridge gives lose /luːz/ and loose /luːs/ in both reviewed UK and US pronunciation pages.
Role Caveat
Loose is also documented as a verb in senses such as set free or make less tight, so grammatical role is a strong but not absolute diagnostic.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- LOSE — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Meaning, verb role and irregular inflection of lose
- LOOSE — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Meaning, common adjective role, additional verb uses, and pronunciation of loose
- LOSE — pronunciation (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Mainstream UK/US pronunciation of lose
- LOOSE — pronunciation (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Mainstream UK/US pronunciation of loose