Oxford English and Spanish Dictionary, Synonyms, and Spanish to English Translator

"Loose" Or "Lose"?

Loose and lose are two completely distinct words, with different meanings and pronunciations. Below is a quick reference table outlining the differences between lose and loose:

	Lose	Loose
pronunciation	rhymes with booze	rhymes with goose
verb	✓	✓
verb forms	lose; losing; lost	loose; loosing; loosed
main verb meaning	to be unable to find or keep something	to release something
adjective	✗	✓
adjective forms	-	looser; loosest
Noun*	✗	✓

*Note: the Oxford English Dictionary does have entries for ‘lose’ as a noun (one meaning ‘an instance of losing’, the other ‘praise; renown’), but neither is listed in our dictionaries of current English.