Lose or loose?
The short answer
“Lose” means to misplace something or not to win. “Loose” means not tight, or not fixed in place.
What each one means
- “lose”
- to misplace, or not to win
- Example: Don’t lose your keys.
- “loose”
- not tight; free to move
- Example: This shirt is loose. The screw came loose.
Common mistakes
| Not this | This |
|---|---|
| Don’t lose your keys. | |
| I want to lose weight. | |
| The knot is loose. |
An easy way to remember
“Lose” lost one “o”. “Loose” has room to spare, like loose clothes.
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