Lose vs Loose at a glance
- lose
/luːz/ · verb
To stop having something, to be unable to find it, or to not win.
- I always lose my keys when I'm in a hurry.
- If we lose this game, we're out of the tournament.
- loose
/luːs/ · adjective
Not tight or not firmly fixed in place.
- These jeans are a bit loose – I need a belt.
- One of the screws on the chair is loose.
How to remember it
Lose has lost one of its o's. Loose rhymes with goose and ends with a sharp /s/; lose ends with a buzzing /z/, like choose.
Good to know
The past form of lose is lost. There is also a rare verb loosen (to make something less tight), which is a different word.
Common mistakes
Wrong: Don't loose your ticket before the show.
Right: Don't lose your ticket before the show.
Wrong: I'm trying to loose weight before the summer.
Right: I'm trying to lose weight before the summer.
Quick quiz
1.Be careful not to your passport at the airport.
2.My tooth feels – I think it's going to fall out.
3.If you your password, click 'Forgot password'.
Pick the right word for each gap.