Meaning of “Loose”

When “loose” is used as an adjective, it refers to not being tight, not firmly attached, or not closely packed. When it is used as a verb, it means to unfasten, to shoot, or to set free. When it is used as an adverb, it means in a way that doesn’t fit closely. 

Usage of “loose”

The word “loose” can be used as an adjective, adverb, verb, or noun, but mostly it is used as an adjective. 

• I bought a pair of loose jeans by mistake. Here, “loose” is an adjective, which refers to not fitting tightly.
• He loosed his pet parrots from the cage. Here, “loose” is a verb, which refers to setting free, i.e., he set his parrots free from the cage.
• The police are searching for a prisoner who escaped from jail and is still on the loose. Here, “loose” is a noun, which refers to being able to move freely.

Examples

• I felt the strings of my dress becoming loose.
• Her grip on his hand became loose as she heard the truth about him.
• He never shares his business secrets with her because of her loose tongue.
• We got afraid of seeing a group of dogs wandering loose on the streets.

Loose and Lose: Have you ever gotten confused while using the words “loose” and “lose?” Though their pronunciations are a little similar, their meanings are completely different. Most often we use them interchangeably as the difference in their spellings is minimal, i.e., is one letter “o.” The word “lose” is used only as a verb, whereas “loose” is used as an adjective, an adverb, a verb, and noun. In this article, we learn about the difference between “loose” and “lose.”