Loose refers to something that is not tight; lose refers to something that’s been lost.
Examples:
Wait for me—I need to tie my shoes again—they’ve gotten loose.
After all this stretching, I’m beginning to feel really loose.
If you don’t pay attention when you put down that pen, you’re going to lose it.
It’s obvious—they’re going to lose the game today.
That belt is on so loosely, you’re going to lose your pants!
Still unsure? Use loose whenever you want to measure/indicate lack of tightness, i.e. something is “loose”; use lose whenever something or someone is lost, i.e. I’ve “lost” it.
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