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Question

Directions: In the following items, a pair of words is provided. You are required to select the option that most appropriately describes the meaning and the grammatical parts of both the words and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

Lose and Loose

This question was previously asked in
CDS 2 2025 Maths Question Paper (14-Sep-2025)
The correct answer is
Lose is a verb meaning to misplace and loose is an adjective meaning slack or movable.

Understanding Lose vs Loose: Meanings and Parts of Speech

The words "lose" and "loose" are often confused because they sound similar but have different meanings and grammatical functions. Let's clarify the distinction between these two commonly mistaken words.

Defining 'Lose'

Lose is primarily used as a verb.

  • Meaning: It means to misplace something, to be deprived of something, to fail to win, or to get rid of something.
  • Examples:
    • "Try not to lose your keys." (misplace)
    • "Our team might lose the match." (fail to win)
    • "She decided to lose some weight." (get rid of)

Defining 'Loose'

Loose is typically used as an adjective.

  • Meaning: It means not tight, slack, free, or unattached. It can also describe something that is not precise or restrained.
  • Examples:
    • "The knot became loose." (not tight)
    • "He was wearing a loose shirt." (baggy)
    • "The dog got loose from its collar." (free, unattached)

Occasionally, "loose" can be used as a verb (pronounced differently, like 'looze'), meaning to set free or release, but this usage is less common in standard English compared to its adjectival form.

Comparing Lose and Loose

Here's a table summarizing the key differences:

Summary of 'Lose' and 'Loose'
Word Part of Speech Common Meaning Example Sentence
Lose Verb To misplace, fail to keep, not win Don't lose the ticket.
Loose Adjective Not tight, slack, unfastened My shoelace is loose.

Remember: "Lose" involves an action (verb), while "loose" describes a state or condition (adjective).

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