loose
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.not fitting closely to your body.
adj.not fitting closely or tightly; having a generous cut or significant space between the object and the surface.
Simple“He prefers wearing loose shirts when the weather is hot and humid.”
In context“The athlete opted for loose clothing during the warm-up to ensure a full range of motion before the race began.”
PitfallI don't want to loose my keys. I don't want to lose my keys.Do not confuse 'loose' (not tight) with 'lose' (to misplace something).
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.not held in place securely; likely to fall or move.
adj.not securely attached or fastened in place; liable to become detached.
Simple“Be careful on the stairs because one of the wooden boards is loose.”
In context“The mechanic discovered a loose bolt in the engine housing that had been causing the unusual vibration during high-speed travel.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.not precise or strictly accurate.
adj.lacking precision, exactness, or strict adherence to a set of rules or facts.
Simple“The movie is a loose translation of a very famous historical novel.”
In context“The journalist provided a loose summary of the closed-door negotiations, focusing on the general atmosphere rather than specific policy agreements.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
adj.not tied up or kept in a cage.
adj.not confined, imprisoned, or tethered; free from physical restraint.
Simple“The neighbor's dog is loose again and running around the park.”
In context“Authorities warned residents to stay indoors after reports that several exotic animals were loose following the storm damage at the sanctuary.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to let something go or set it free from a trap or grip.
v.to set free from restraints or to release a projectile.
Simple“The archer took a deep breath and loosed the arrow at the target.”
In context“The commander loosed his cavalry upon the retreating flank, hoping to end the engagement before nightfall.”
UsageOften used with 'on' or 'upon' when releasing a force or feeling.
- 06 C2 Proficiency
n.the part of a rugby game where the ball is moving and not in a set position.
n.the phase of play in rugby where the ball is in open play rather than in a scrum or line-out.
Simple“He is a very fast player who performs best in the loose.”
In context“The flanker's ability to dominate in the loose proved decisive during the final twenty minutes of the match.”
Synonymsopen playAntonymsset piece
Usage loose ball
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *lausaz Old Norse laussbor. Middle English loos English loose From Middle English loos, los, lous, from Old Norse lauss, from Proto-Germanic lausaz, whence also -less, leasing; from Proto-Indo-European lewh₁- (“to untie, set free, separate”), whence also lyo-, -lysis, via Ancient Greek.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.