lose
Often confused with loose, miss
- 1To no longer have something because you cannot find it, cannot keep it, or have it taken away.
Like putting down a toy and then not being able to find it.
I always lose my keys when I'm in a hurry.
He lost his wallet on the train.
UsageWrite lose with one o. Loose means not tight.
Similarmisplace, mislay, forfeit
Oppositefind, keep, retain, recover
Note
- 2
- 3
- 4To have someone close to you die.
She lost her grandmother last winter.
It is hard to lose a close friend.
UsageSay lose someone to an illness: he lost his wife to cancer.
Note
- 5To get off the right path and not be able to find your way back to it.
Like missing your turn and ending up on a road you don't know.
Hikers often lose the trail where the forest grows thick.
We lost the path in the fog and wandered for hours.
UsageOften in lose your way: we lost our way in the fog.
Similarmiss
Note
- 6To stop being able to see, follow, or understand someone or something.
Like following a friend through a crowd and then not seeing them anymore.
The detective lost the suspect in the busy market.
I started to lose the story halfway through the long movie.
UsageOften in lose track of and lose sight of: I lost sight of her.
- 7
- 8
Less common meanings
- 9
- 10To get away from someone chasing you so they can no longer follow or find you.
Like slipping away in a big crowd so the person looking for you can't spot you.
The thief managed to lose the police in the crowded market.
She lost her pursuer by ducking into a side alley.
UsageThe person running away is the subject: she lost them in the crowd.
Similarevade, elude, shake, escape, outrun
Note
- 11To have to pay money because you bet on the wrong thing.
Like promising to give a friend your snack if you guess wrong: and then guessing wrong.
He lost fifty dollars on the final race.
If you bet on that team, you lose your money.
UsageLose money on something: she lost ten dollars on the game.
Similarforfeit, squander, blow, drop
Oppositewin
- 12Of a clock or watch, to fall behind the right time by running too slow.
Like a tired runner who slowly falls behind everyone else.
Cheap watches often lose several minutes a week.
My grandfather's clock lost ten minutes overnight.
UsageSay how much: it loses two minutes a day.
Oppositegain
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Old English "losian" and older Germanic roots. Its modern sound was influenced by the word "loose".
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- Lose comes from Old English losian. en.wiktionary.org
- Lose has older Germanic roots. en.wiktionary.org
- The modern pronunciation of lose was influenced by loose. en.wiktionary.org