Commonly Confused Words:  lose / loose

Lose, pronounced /luz/ is a verb. 

Lose has three possible meanings:

• to "misplace" something,
• to "fail to win," or
• to "be deprived of" something.

The past tense of lose is lost.

   Example of lose meaning to "misplace" something

   Example of lose meaning to "fail to win"

    Example of lose meaning to "be deprived of"

Loose, pronounced like goose and moose, is an adjective.

Loose has two possible meanings:

• "not fastened," or
• "not tight fitting."

   Example of loose meaning "not fastened"  

   Example of loose meaning "not tight fitting"

Now try Exercise #1 on lose / loose.