Lose, with one O, is a verb meaning to misplace something or be defeated — don't lose your keys. Loose, with two, is an adjective meaning not tight — a loose screw. They also sound different: lose rhymes with "news", loose rhymes with "goose".
The core difference
A verb and an adjective, distinguished by an O and by sound.
- lose (rhymes with news) — misplace, be defeated: lose the match, lose weight.
- loose (rhymes with goose) — not tight: loose clothing, come loose.
The sound is the reliable test
Unlike most confusable pairs, these are not homophones. Lose ends in a Z sound; loose ends in an S sound. If you say the sentence aloud and hear "looss", you want the double O.
Why the spelling misleads
English usually doubles the vowel for a longer sound, so lose looks as though it should rhyme with rose or hose. It does not, and there is no rule that predicts it — lose is simply irregular, which is why the error is so persistent.
The verb loose
Loose also works as a verb meaning to release — loose an arrow. That is rare and mostly literary, but it means "loosed" is a real word and not a misspelling of "lost".
Frequently asked questions
Which spelling means not tight?
Loose, with two O — rhyming with goose.
How do I tell them apart when speaking?
They sound different. Lose rhymes with news; loose rhymes with goose.
Is "loose" ever a verb?
Yes, meaning to release — loose an arrow. It is rare and mostly literary.