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Level: B1

Loose vs Lose

Loose (not tight) and lose (to misplace or not win) look almost the same but sound different and do different jobs. Learn the rule, then practice below.

🔍 Confused words · pair 28 of 54 ⏱ about 5 minutes 🔊 every sentence has audio

  • Loose – adjective: not tight, not attached, free.
  • These jeans are too ______ for me. – loose
  • My little brother has a ______ tooth. – loose
  • The doorknob is ______ and needs fixing. – loose
  • She likes to wear ______ clothes in summer. – loose
  • One of the screws came ______. – loose
  • The dog got ______ and ran into the street. – loose
  • Watch out for the ______ stones on the path. – loose
  • This knot is too ______ to hold the boat. – loose
  • Her ______ hair blew in the wind. – loose
  • The button on my coat is ______. – loose
  • The rope was tied in a ______ knot. – loose
  • After the diet, all his pants were ______. – loose
  • The handle feels ______ — tighten it. – loose
  • Some ______ papers fell out of the folder. – loose
  • The horse broke ______ from the fence. – loose
  • I keep ______ change in my pocket. – loose
  • The floorboard is ______ and squeaks. – loose
  • Wear ______ clothing when you practice yoga. – loose
  • The bandage was too ______ to stay on. – loose
  • A ______ wire caused the problem. – loose
  • The lid is ______, so the jar may leak. – loose
  • Leave the soil ______ around the roots. – loose
  • Lose – verb: to misplace, to not win, to stop having.
  • Don’t ______ your keys again. – lose
  • If we play badly, we will ______ the game. – lose
  • I always ______ my umbrella on the bus. – lose
  • He didn’t want to ______ his place in line. – lose
  • You will ______ points for wrong answers. – lose
  • She was afraid to ______ her job. – lose
  • Slow down or you’ll ______ control of the bike. – lose
  • I hope we don’t ______ the signal in the tunnel. – lose
  • Did your team ______ again last night? – lose
  • Be careful not to ______ the receipt. – lose
  • He started to ______ patience with the traffic. – lose
  • If you ______ your passport, call the embassy. – lose
  • I didn’t want to ______ the argument. – lose
  • Turn on the map so we don’t ______ our way. – lose
  • You have nothing to ______ by asking. – lose
  • The doctor said I should ______ a little weight. – lose
  • Don’t ______ hope — keep practicing. – lose
  • We can’t afford to ______ this customer. – lose
  • He tends to ______ track of time when reading. – lose
  • If you’re not careful, you’ll ______ the file. – lose
  • They didn’t ______ a single match this season. – lose
  • I ______ my voice every time I catch a cold. – lose

Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between loose and lose?
Loose (with two o’s) is an adjective meaning not tight or not attached. Lose (one o) is a verb meaning to misplace something, to fail to win, or to stop having something.
How do I remember loose vs lose?
Loose has an extra o — the word itself is looser. If you drop an o from loose, you lose it. Also listen to the sound: loose ends with an S sound, lose ends with a Z sound.
Is it ‘lose weight’ or ‘loose weight’?
Lose weight — losing is something you do, so you need the verb. Loose describes things: after you lose weight, your clothes become loose.