Lose and loose are easy to confuse. Lose typically functions only as a verb, with meanings related to failing to win or hold onto something; one might “lose a game” or “lose one’s temper.” Loose can be used as an adjective ("not securely attached"), a verb ("to free something or someone"), and less commonly, a noun or adverb.

Lose is a verb, while loose is almost always an adjective. They’re often confused because of their similar spelling.

The two words “lose” and “loose” are homophones, which means that they sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. The word “lose” is a verb, and it means to fail to keep or maintain something or to fail to win something. On the other hand, “loose” is an adjective and it means not tight or not confined.

Loose (double “o”; pronounced [loo-s]) is an adjective or adverb meaning “not secure” or “not tight.” It can also be used as a verb to mean “release.” Lose (one “o”; pronounced [loo-z]) is a verb that can be used to mean “misplace” or “suffer a loss.”

Loose is an adjective here, so an extra o is needed. The bottom line is, when you want a verb, you should use lose, and when you want an adjective, you should use loose. It might help you remember the difference if you think that, if you lose one o from loose, you’ll get lose.