adj

loose

loos

adj

Not firmly attached, fixed, or fitting tightly.

"One of the fence posts was loose after the storm."

"She wore a loose sweater over her jeans."

Not precise, exact, or strict.

"That's a fairly loose translation of the original poem."

verb

To set free or release from restraint.

"The hunter loosed his arrow at the target."

"They loosed the dogs to chase after the fox."

How to Use Loose

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot tight, not fixed firmly in place, or (as a verb) to release or set free.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "lose" (to misplace or fail to win) — "loose" rhymes with "goose," "lose" rhymes with "shoes."

Easily confused with

lose →

Common pairings

a loose tooth loose change cut loose loose ends

Word Forms

looser comparative, loosed past tense, looses plural, Looses plural, looses singular, loosest superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

One of the fence posts was _____ after the storm.

Etymology

From Old Norse lauss ("loose, free"), related to the suffix "-less" and to words like "lyse" and "-lysis" in modern English via a very old root meaning "to untie."

Synonyms

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fire unsecured shoot spaced out relaxed tarty whorish unstapled

Antonyms

constrain bind fasten tie tighten fast firm tight

Related Words

tighten meticulous slow kindle retreat hard bind choose

Rhymes for loose

rose nose lose dose pose Jose hose Bose close moose whose goose

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fire unsecured shoot spaced out relaxed tarty whorish unstapled constrain bind fasten tie