loose

[ loos ]

adjective

, loos·er, loos·est.

1. free or released from fastening or attachment:

   a loose end.

   Antonyms: bound

2. free from anything that binds or restrains; unfettered:

   loose cats prowling around in alleyways at night.

   Synonyms: unbound

3. uncombined, as a chemical element.
4. not bound together:

   to wear one's hair loose.

5. not put up in a package or other container:

   loose mushrooms.

6. available for disposal; unused; unappropriated:

   loose funds.

7. lacking in reticence or power of restraint:

   a loose tongue.

8. lax, as the bowels.
9. lacking moral restraint or integrity:

   notorious for his loose character.

10. sexually promiscuous or immoral; unchaste.

    Synonyms: licentious, dissolute, libertine

    Antonyms: chaste

11. not firm, taut, or rigid:

    a loose tooth;

    a loose rein.

12. relaxed or limber in nature:

    He runs with a loose, open stride.

13. not fitting closely or tightly:

    a loose sweater.

14. not close or compact in structure or arrangement; having spaces between the parts; open:

    a loose weave.

15. having few restraining factors between associated constituents and allowing ample freedom for independent action:

    a loose federation of city-states.

16. not cohering:

    loose sand.

17. not strict, exact, or precise:

    a loose interpretation of the law.

    Synonyms: indefinite, general, vague

18. Sports.
    1. having the players on a team positioned at fairly wide intervals, as in a football formation.
    2. (of a ball, hockey puck, etc.) not in the possession of either team; out of player control.

adverb

1. in a loose manner; loosely (usually used in combination):

   loose-flowing.

verb (used with object)

, loosed, loos·ing.

1. to let loose; free from bonds or restraint.

   Synonyms: unbind, loosen

2. to release, as from constraint, obligation, or penalty.

   Synonyms: liberate

3. Chiefly Nautical. to set free from fastening or attachment:

   to loose a boat from its moorings.

4. to unfasten, undo, or untie, as a bond, fetter, or knot.
5. to shoot; discharge; let fly:

   to loose missiles at the invaders.

6. to make less tight; slacken or relax.

   Synonyms: ease

   Antonyms: tighten

7. to render less firmly fixed; lessen an attachment; loosen.

verb (used without object)

, loosed, loos·ing.

1. to let go a hold.
2. to hoist anchor; get under way.
3. to shoot or let fly an arrow, bullet, etc. (often followed by off ):

   to loose off at a flock of ducks.

4. Obsolete. to become loose; loosen.

loose

/ luːs /

adjective

1. free or released from confinement or restraint
2. not close, compact, or tight in structure or arrangement
3. not fitted or fitting closely

   loose clothing is cooler

4. not bundled, packaged, fastened, or put in a container

   loose nails

5. inexact; imprecise

   a loose translation

6. (of funds, cash, etc) not allocated or locked away; readily available
7. 1. (esp of women) promiscuous or easy
   2. (of attitudes, ways of life, etc) immoral or dissolute
8. lacking a sense of responsibility or propriety

   loose talk

9. 1. (of the bowels) emptying easily, esp excessively; lax
   2. (of a cough) accompanied by phlegm, mucus, etc
10. (of a dye or dyed article) fading as a result of washing; not fast
11. informal.
    very relaxed; easy

noun

1. the loose
   rugby the part of play when the forwards close round the ball in a ruck or loose scrum See scrum
2. on the loose
   1. free from confinement or restraint
   2. on a spree

adverb

1. 1. in a loose manner; loosely
   2. ( in combination )

      loose-fitting

2. hang loose informal.
   to behave in a relaxed, easy fashion

verb

1. tr to set free or release, as from confinement, restraint, or obligation
2. tr to unfasten or untie
3. to make or become less strict, tight, firmly attached, compact, etc
4. whenintr, often foll by off to let fly (a bullet, arrow, or other missile)

Derived Forms

• ˈlooseness, noun
• ˈloosely, adverb

Other Words From

• loose·ly adverb
• loose·ness noun
• o·ver·loose adjective
• o·ver·loose·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of loose¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; (adjective) Middle English los, loos, from Old Norse lauss “loose, free, empty”; cognate with Old English lēas ( -less ), Dutch, German los loose, free; (verb) Middle English leowsen, lousen, derivative of the adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of loose¹

C13 (in the sense: not bound): from Old Norse lauss free; related to Old English lēas free from, -less

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. break loose, to free oneself; escape:

   The convicts broke loose.

2. cast loose,
   1. to loosen or unfasten, as a ship from a mooring.
   2. to send forth; set adrift or free:

      He was cast loose at an early age to make his own way in the world.

3. cut loose,
   1. to release from domination or control.
   2. to become free, independent, etc.
   3. to revel without restraint:

      After the rodeo they headed into town to cut loose.

4. hang / stay loose, Slang. to remain relaxed and unperturbed.
5. on the loose,
   1. free; unconfined, as, especially, an escaped convict or circus animal.
   2. behaving in an unrestrained or dissolute way:

      a bachelor on the loose.

6. turn loose, to release or free, as from confinement:

   The teacher turned the children loose after the class.

7. let loose. let loose ( def ).

More idioms and phrases containing loose

• at loose ends
• break loose
• cast loose
• cut loose
• footloose and fancy-free
• hang loose
• have a screw loose
• on the loose
• play fast and loose

Example Sentences

"This government will never play fast and loose with the public finances. Our new robust fiscal rules will deliver stability by getting debt down while prioritising investment to deliver growth."

From BBC

“Ball on the floor,” he yells when he expects his players to hustle for a loose ball.

From Los Angeles Times

He recorded a loose improvisation on his iPhone, humming along with the piano and narrating his rough concept for the director.

From Los Angeles Times

Within a few blocks of the corner where the plaintiff was hurt, about half the light poles had caps that were loose or missing, meaning they had already fallen off.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s apparent in how American Tech moguls want looser regulations on I-9 visas but also tariffs to protect America’s tech industry from China.

From Salon

Related Words

• baggy
• lax
• relaxed
• sloppy

Loose Vs. Lose

What’s the difference between loose and lose?

Loose is most commonly used as an adjective meaning not tight or free or released from fastening, attachment, or restraint, as in a loose screw or Let him loose! Lose is a verb most commonly meaning to fail to win or to misplace something, as in I hate to lose in chess or Don’t lose your key. 

Loose ends with an s sound and rhymes with moose. Lose ends with a z sound and rhymes with choose.

One reason that the two words are sometimes confused is that loose can also be used as a verb, most commonly meaning to free something from a restraint, as in loose the cannons! 

Perhaps the most common misuse of these words is when loose is used when lose should be. To remember the difference, remember this sentence: You could lose loose screws. (First comes the verb lose, with one o, followed by the adjective loose, with two o’s).

Here’s an example of loose and lose used correctly in a sentence.

Example: If you carry around loose cash, you could lose it—put it in your wallet.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between loose and lose.

Quiz yourself on loose vs. lose!

Should loose or lose be used in the following sentence?

I don’t want to _____ this game!