loose, lose

Lose (pronounced “looz”) means “to misplace” or “to fail to win.” Loose (pronounced “luce”) is the opposite of tight.

Some writers incorrectly use loose when they mean “lose.” The following is incorrect:

The pundits predict she will loose (lose) the election.

The word loose also acts as a verb and means “to release; unfasten.” The word loosen is similar, but pay attention to a distinction: The verb loose means “a complete release”; the verb loosen means “a partial release.”

Example: His shoe was so loose that it fell off halfway through the race and caused him to lose his large lead.