Which of the following sentences is correct? Option A or Option B: If we loose again, our team will be out of the league, or if we lose again, our team will be out of the league. At this point, you might get confused. For some, the answer would be option A and for others, option B.
You might get confused as both words are pronounced the same, and the spelling is almost identical. The difference between the two in the spelling is the extra “O” in loose.
Loose and lose are two similar words but have different meanings.
We have explained in detail the definition and application of both the words in a sentence and their synonyms to help you understand the words better and use them wisely in your IELTS preparation and in daily conversation.
Loose vs Lose: Difference
Loose is an adjective that can be referred to in the following ways:
- Loose means that something is not tight.
- It describes a person, thing, quality, event, substance and quality.
- When something is not tightly controlled or is exact.
Lose is a verb that can be referred to in the following ways:
- It is a word that describes experience, condition or experience.
- Failed to succeed
- Lost is the past form of the verb Lose.
| Elements | Loose | Lose |
| Meaning | It means something which is not tight | It means something which is misplaced or lost |
| Usage | It can be used as an adjective and a verb | It can be used as a verb |
| Example | The saree draped by my mother is loose. | You should remember not to lose your lunch box at school. |
Loose vs Lose: Synonyms
There can be many synonyms for the words loose and lose, but we have mentioned some words below with their application in a sentence.
| Loose | 1. Baggy 2. Easy 3. Sloppy 4. Hanging 5. Slack 6. Unhooked 7. Detached 8. Disconnected 9. Free. |
- Baggy: The T-shirt you bought is very baggy.
- Easy: Making chocolate cake was very easy.
- Sloppy: You should refrain from making sloppy errors in the document immediately.
- Hanging: The wall hanging on the yellow wall looks very beautiful.
- Slack: Many journalists have become far too slack.
- Unhooked: He unhooked the fittings on the wall to get it changed.
- Detached: Rahul detached the bulb from its holder.
- Disconnected: I feel disconnected from my school friends in college.
- Free: Section A of class 1 has a free period today.
| Lose | 1. Drop 2. Fail 3. Forget 4. Give up 5. Suffer 6. Waste 7. Rob 8. Miss 9. Deplete 10. Consume. |
- Drop: If you want work experience, you should take a drop year after college completion.
- Fail: If you don’t start studying today, you will fail.
- Forget: Don’t forget to finish your n before the deadline.
- Give up: He didn’t give up when he was ill last month
- Suffer: I suffer from high blood pressure.
- Waste: You should throw your house waste in the designated dustbin.
- Rob: Someone tried to rob her on a silent road.
- Miss: You can’t miss your tomorrow’s exam.
- Deplete: The ozone layer is depleting due to pollution caused by
- Consume: People consume sugar at high levels in aerated drinks.
Read about other confusing words
Loose vs Lose: Application in Sentences
The words loose and lose can be used differently in a sentence, as both words have different meanings.
The examples of sentences with the word loose are as follows:
- The travel guide gave a loose sign to stop at the next destination.
- Although I bought the dress in my size, it was too loose to fit.
- The loose drapes of the saree fluttered in the wind.
- Rahul couldn’t run faster in his sports shoes as they were loose.
- When the soil is loose, it is always easy to plant a tree.
The examples of sentences with the word lose are as follows:
- The dietician wants to lose weight for better health results.
- Please lose your jacket to get a funky look.
- If we don’t practice well, we won’t win the league.
- We might lose some of our teachers if we don’t get enough admissions.
- I lose 3 hours every day by getting stuck in traffic.
Loose vs Lose – Worksheet
Till now, we have understood the difference between the definition and application of loose and loose words in a sentence, but to enhance your learning process, we have prepared a worksheet for you to practice!
Fill in the blanks with the correct word lose or loose
Q1. There are _____ papers in the bag.
Q2. Riya has a _____ tooth.
Q3. You should practice football every day to not _____ in the match.
Q4. Your cat is very cute. Don’t______ her now.
Q5. Win or ____, this will be the best game we play.
Answers to 1-5 questions
- loose
- loose
- lose
- lose
- lose
Also Read:
- Subject and Object
- Masculine and Feminine
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Homonyms vs Homophones vs Homographs
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To Sum Up
In written english, you need to know the spelling even though the pronunciation is the same. For example, the word lead can be pronounced as lid or led.
Practising worksheets and questions is essential to gain confidence in such words. To get further assistance with your SOPs and university applications, consider contacting Leap Scholar!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which is correct, loose or lose?
A. The words loose and lose are two different words with different meanings and spelling.
1. Loose can be defined as something that is not tight.
2. Lose can be defined as something that has failed to succeed.
Q. Give 5 examples of lose in sentences.
A. The 5 examples of lose in sentences are as follows:
1. We lost the final match by 1 point.
2. I lost my watch during a school picnic.
3. The country lost its independence 70 years ago.
4. She lost a point in 2 rounds of debate but won the third match.
5. The company is losing many customers since the prices have increased.
Q. Give 5 examples of loose in sentences.
A. The 5 examples of loose sentences are as follows:
1. You should bring loose clothes to wear in hot and humid weather.
2. He loves to wear oversized t-shirts.
3. The child had a loose tooth.
4. Her loose change was juggling in her pocket.
5. The lid was too loose to close the jar.
Q. What does loose mean?
A. The word loose can be defined as:
1. Something inaccurate
2. Something which does not fit closely
3. Something which is not fixed or contained
4. Something which is not firmly fixed.
Q. What does lose mean?
A. The word lose can be defined as:
1. Something misplaced or lost
2. Something unsuccessful or defeat
3. Something that is a waste of time or a chance
4. Something that is no longer with you.
Q. Are there any tips to help you understand the difference?
A. The tips you can follow to understand the difference between lose and loose are:
1. Remember the function of both the words loose and lose
2. Remember to use the pronunciation of the words loose and lose
3. After using the words, double-check and proofread again to avoid mistakes
4. When you doubt, you can refer to a dictionary to understand the meaning better.
5. You should keep practising the questions to better understand the difference between the words.
Q. What are some synonyms for the word “lose”?
A. Some synonyms for “lose” are:
1. Stop having
2. Be defeated
3. Misplaced
4. Forget
5. Avoid.
Q. How is “lose” used?
A. Lose is used as a verb. You can use this term in various ways in the sentence, such as:
-Suffering a decrease or reduction. For example, They didn’t want to lose their friendship over a silly argument.
-Failing to be successful or winning. For example, The team practices daily to avoid losing the championship.
Q. What are some synonyms for the word “loose”?
A. Some synonyms for “loose” are:
1. Not secure
2. Detached
3. Escaped
4. Oversized
5. Liberal.
Q. How is “loose” used?
A. Loose is used as an adjective. You can use this term in various ways in the sentence, such as:
1. Refer to something detached or unbound. For example, The dog’s rein was held loose to give it freedom for movement.
2. Describe something that is not tight. For example, The sweater worn by the kid is loose to wear.
Q. What are the other commonly confused words?
A. Other commonly confusing words are:
1. Among vs Between
2. Affect vs Effect
3. Complement vs Compliment
4. Infer vs Imply
5. Further vs Farther.
Q. What is the difference between lost, loose and lose?
A. The difference between the words lost and loose is
-The word lost is the past form of the verb lose. It means something that is misplaced or left behind.
-The word loose used as an adjective. It means ill-fitting or not tied tightly. And when you use it as a verb, it means to set free or let go.
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