verb

lose

looz

verb

To no longer have something you once had, whether by accident, carelessness, or misfortune.

"She lost her keys somewhere between the car and the front door."

"He lost his job when the factory closed down."

To fail to win a game, competition, or argument.

"The home team lost the final by a single point."

"Don't take it personally if you lose this round."

To become unable to find your way, or to no longer be able to follow or track someone or something.

"We lost the trail once the snow started falling."

"The runners managed to lose the reporters chasing them."

How to Use Lose

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo no longer have something, or to fail to win.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "lose" (rhymes with "choose") with "loose" (rhymes with "juice", meaning not tight). Mixing up the spelling is one of the most common English errors.

Easily confused with

loose →

Common pairings

lose weight lose track of lose your temper lose a game

Word Forms

lost past tense, lose plural, Loses plural, lost plural, loses singular, lose singular, lost singular, losest singular, lostest singular, loseth singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “lose” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Don't take it personally if you _____ this round.

Etymology

From Old English losian, meaning to perish or be lost. Its modern pronunciation was reshaped over time by confusion with the unrelated word "loose."

Synonyms

View more →

leave behind mislay (fail to win: forfeit (shed: drop, shed forlese

Antonyms

come across discover find gain acquire get procure pick up

Related Words

abandon be achieve buy begin deem find forget

Rhymes for lose

rose nose dose pose Jose hose Bose close moose whose goose loose

See all rhymes for lose →

People Also Searched

leave behind mislay (fail to win: forfeit (shed: drop, shed forlese come across discover find gain acquire get procure