Grammarama

Loose vs. Lose

Loose is most commonly used as an adjective. In a general sense, it means free, unrestrained, or relaxed. Lose, on the other hand, is exclusively a verb. If you lose something, then that means it’s no longer in your control, or it means that you have suffered defeat (so, in a sense, you are no longer in control of the game or battle). However, loose can be a verb as well, essentially referring to the act of making something loose – the adjective, that is.

Examples:

Daunte Culpepper just fumbled. It’s a loose football.
You’d lose your head if it wasn’t attached to your body.
A dangerous criminal is loose! He escaped from the penitentiary last night!
The Packers just recovered Culpepper’s fumble. Now the Vikings will lose the game for sure.
I like loose-fitting pants. They’re much more comfortable.