lose

lose — verb

1. when you cannot recall where you placed a thing you once owned, such as a wallet

1.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

when you cannot recall where you placed a thing you once owned, such as a wallet or a set of keys

Example

Chiara lost her car keys and spent an hour looking for them.

lose + physical object (keys, wallet, phone)

Adina lost her library book and had to pay a fine.

Common collocations
  • lose a key/wallet/phone
  • lose a book/ticket
  • lose one's way
Synonyms
  • misplace

    more formal, often suggests you put something in the wrong spot

  • mislay

    slightly old-fashioned, implies you placed it somewhere and forgot

Antonyms
  • find

    to discover where something is

  • locate

    more formal, to find the exact position

Grammar Patterns

lose + noun phrase (physical object)

Usage Note

Only used for physical objects that can be misplaced. For abstract things (time, opportunity), see senses 3, 4, and 5.

Common Mistakes

I always loose my keys.
I always lose my keys.
'Lose' is a verb meaning misplace; 'loose' is an adjective meaning not tight.

2. to stop having a person or a thing in your life because they die, leave, or are

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to stop having a person or a thing in your life because they die, leave, or are destroyed by an unexpected event

Example

Hugo lost his mother to cancer when he was only twelve years old.

lose + family member + to [cause]

Bilal lost his job when the factory closed down last summer.

Common collocations
  • lose a parent/spouse/child
  • lose one's job
  • lose one's home
  • lose one's sight/hearing
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • keep

    to continue having something

  • gain

    to obtain something new

Grammar Patterns

lose + noun phrase (person/job/possession)

Usage Note

Subject is usually a person or a community. When referring to death, the cause often follows the pattern 'lose someone to [cause]' (e.g. lost her father to cancer). Distinguish from sense 1 (MISPLACE): here the loss is permanent and not about forgetting where something is.

Common Mistakes

I lost my job because I decided to quit.
I lost my job when the company downsized.
'Lose a job' means it was taken away from you, not that you left voluntarily.

3. to gradually or suddenly stop having a particular feeling, attitude, or quality

3.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to gradually or suddenly stop having a particular feeling, attitude, or quality that you had before

Example

Putri lost all interest in her hobby after doing it for years.

lose + interest / enthusiasm / hope

Christopher lost his temper when the computer crashed for the third time.

Common collocations
  • lose interest
  • lose hope
  • lose faith
  • lose confidence
  • lose patience
  • lose one's temper
  • lose heart
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • keep

    to continue feeling something

  • maintain

    formal, to keep a feeling or attitude going

Grammar Patterns

lose + abstract noun (interest, hope, faith, temper, patience)

Usage Note

Common in fixed phrases: 'lose your temper' (get angry), 'lose your nerve' (become scared), 'lose faith/trust' (stop believing). These are often idiomatic and the exact collocation cannot be guessed.

Common Mistakes

She lost to study hard.
She lost the desire to study hard.
'Lose' needs a noun object; it cannot be directly followed by a verb.

4. to experience a steady reduction in a physical quality or feature, such as hair,

4.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to experience a steady reduction in a physical quality or feature, such as hair, strength, or weight, often as you grow older

Example

Antonia has been losing her hair since she turned thirty-five.

lose + hair / weight / eyesight (gradual physical change)

Dr. Okonkwo noticed that he was losing his eyesight in one eye.

Common collocations
  • lose hair
  • lose weight
  • lose eyesight
  • lose colour
  • lose leaves
  • lose strength
Synonyms
  • have less

    simpler, neutral phrasing

  • shed

    used specifically for hair, leaves, or weight

Antonyms
  • gain

    to increase in amount or quantity

  • put on

    specifically for weight

Grammar Patterns

lose + noun phrase (hair, weight, leaves, colour)

Usage Note

Commonly progressive: 'I am losing my hair.' Use 'lose weight' for intentionally or unintentionally becoming lighter. Distinguish from sense 2 (LOSE THROUGH DEATH): here the change is gradual and natural, not caused by a sudden event.

Common Mistakes

I am losing my weight very quickly.
I am losing weight very quickly.
'Weight' is used without a possessive pronoun in this context.

5. to use time badly or fail to take advantage of an opportunity, often by doing so

5.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to use time badly or fail to take advantage of an opportunity, often by doing something unproductive

Example

Mark lost an hour waiting for a train that never arrived.

lose + time + -ing form

The sales team lost a great opportunity when they rejected the offer.

lose + opportunity / chance

Common collocations
  • lose time
  • lose an opportunity
  • lose a chance
  • no time to lose
  • lose precious days
Synonyms
  • waste

    stronger, more direct; can imply fault

  • squander

    more dramatic, suggests a serious missed chance

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

lose + time/opportunity

lose + noun + -ing

Usage Note

The fixed phrase 'no time to lose' means you must act immediately. The -ing form follows the object of time (e.g. 'lost time waiting'). For wasting financial resources, see sibling sense 8 (LOSE MONEY).

Common Mistakes

I lost time to wait for him.
I lost time waiting for him.
After 'lose time,' use the -ing form of the verb, not the infinitive.

6. when a timepiece runs at a speed that is too slow, causing it to show a time tha

6.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

when a timepiece runs at a speed that is too slow, causing it to show a time that is earlier than the real time

Example

Grandfather's pocket watch loses about five minutes every week.

clock/watch + loses + time period

The clock in the library loses time, so the bell rings late each hour.

Common collocations
  • clock loses time
  • watch loses minutes
  • lose a few seconds a day
  • lose five minutes a week
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • gain

    when a clock goes too fast

  • run fast

    the opposite behaviour

Grammar Patterns

clock/watch + loses

clock/watch + loses + time period

Usage Note

The opposite of 'lose' in this sense is 'gain' (a clock that runs fast gains time). This sense is less common in American English, where 'runs slow' is preferred instead.

Common Mistakes

My watch losses five minutes every day.
My watch loses five minutes every day.
'Losses' is a noun; the third-person singular verb is 'loses.'

7. to remove or reduce something unwanted from your body or your life, such as weig

7.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to remove or reduce something unwanted from your body or your life, such as weight, fat, or a bad habit.

Example

Dewi lost three kilograms after changing her diet and exercising more.

collocation: lose weight / lose kilograms

The doctor told Andrew he needed to lose some weight before his next check-up.

Common collocations
  • lose weight
  • lose fat
  • lose a habit
  • lose a fear
  • lose kilos
  • lose pounds
Synonyms
  • shed

    more specific to weight or hair (e.g. 'shed five kilos')

  • drop

    informal, common for weight ('drop a few pounds')

Antonyms
  • gain

    for weight ('gain weight')

  • put on

    informal, opposite of losing weight

Grammar Patterns

lose + noun phrase

Usage Note

Object is typically something undesirable (weight, fat, a habit, a fear). Not used for deliberately discarding objects — use 'throw away' or 'get rid of' instead.

Common Mistakes

I lost my old sofa last weekend.
I got rid of my old sofa last weekend.
'lose' means unintentionally no longer having something; use 'get rid of' for deliberate removal.

8. to spend more money than you receive, so that a business or project operates at

8.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to spend more money than you receive, so that a business or project operates at a financial loss.

Example

The small café lost money in its first year and had to change its menu.

collocation: lose money

Reuben's company lost over two million dollars on that failed project.

pattern: lose + amount + on + noun

Common collocations
  • lose money
  • lose millions
  • lose on a deal
  • lose on an investment
  • keep losing money
Synonyms
  • bleed

    informal, dramatic ('the company is bleeding cash')

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

lose + money

lose + amount + on + noun

Usage Note

Common with amounts of money and the preposition 'on' (e.g. 'lost $500,000 on the deal'). Frequently appears in business news and financial reports. The passive form ('money was lost') is also common.

Common Mistakes

The shop lost money last month, but it still made a profit.
The shop lost money last month, so it did not make a profit.
'lose money' and 'make a profit' are opposites; they cannot both be true at the same time.

9. to finish a contest without being the winner — used for games, matches, competit

9.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

to finish a contest without being the winner — used for games, matches, competitions, elections, and arguments where one side is declared the victor.

Example

Our school team lost the final match by just a single point.

transitive: lose + competition

Talia lost the class election by fewer than fifty votes.

Common collocations
  • lose a game
  • lose a match
  • lose an election
  • lose to someone
  • lose by a point
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • win

    direct opposite

  • beat

    active opposite ('beat the other team')

Grammar Patterns

lose + noun (game, match, election)

lose (no object)

Usage Note

Can be used transitively ('lose a game') or intransitively ('they lost again'). The preposition 'to' introduces the opponent: 'lose to someone'. Not used for failing an exam — use 'fail' instead.

Common Mistakes

I lost my driving test.
I failed my driving test.
'lose' is for competitions with opponents; 'fail' is for tests and exams.

10. to fail to hear, see, or understand something that is being communicated, becaus

10.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to fail to hear, see, or understand something that is being communicated, because of noise, distance, or complexity.

Example

Mateo's final words were lost in the roar of the passing train.

passive: be lost in [noise]

Élise lost the last part of the lecture when her phone rang.

Common collocations
  • be lost in the noise
  • be lost on someone
  • lose the thread
  • lose the meaning
Synonyms
  • miss

    more general ('miss what someone said')

  • fail to catch

    explicit ('fail to catch the name')

Grammar Patterns

be lost in + noun phrase

lose + noun (words, sounds, meaning)

Usage Note

Common in the passive voice ('be lost in', 'be lost on'). 'Lost on someone' means the person fails to understand or appreciate something. 'Lost in something' means the sound or words are drowned out.

Common Mistakes

I lost the movie because I was late.
I missed the beginning of the movie because I was late.
'lose' means failing to catch sensory input; 'miss' is for not arriving in time for an event.

11. to stop being able to see someone or something as they move away from you; or to

11.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to stop being able to see someone or something as they move away from you; or to escape from someone who is following or pursuing you.

Example

Christopher lost sight of his friend in the busy night market.

collocation: lose sight of

The police lost the suspect when he ran into a crowd of shoppers.

Common collocations
  • lose sight of
  • lose sight of someone
  • lose sight of something
Synonyms
  • shake off

    informal; escaping a pursuer ('shake off a tail')

  • outrun

    physical; escaping by speed

Antonyms
  • spot

    opposite — to suddenly see ('spot someone in a crowd')

  • keep track of

    maintaining visual contact

Grammar Patterns

lose sight of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Almost always used with 'sight of' — 'lose sight of someone/something'. The 'escape' meaning ('lose a pursuer') typically implies physical pursuit. For abstract figurative use ('lose sight of your goals'), see the primary chunk.

Common Mistakes

I lost my keys' (when meaning you misplaced them).
I lost sight of my keys' means you could see them a moment ago but now cannot. Use sense 1 (misplace) for everyday disappearance from your possession.
Phrasal verbs

lose out

phrasal verb

To not get something good that someone else gets.

Sara lost out on the scholarship to another student.

If you don't apply early, you might lose out.

lose out to

phrasal verb

To be defeated or replaced by someone or something else.

Our team lost out to a stronger opponent in the final.

The old technology lost out to the new smartphone.

lose yourself in

phrasal verb

To become so involved in something that you forget everything else.

Diego lost himself in the novel for hours.

She lost herself in the music while dancing.

Idioms

lose it

idiom

To suddenly become very angry or upset and not control your actions.

Mia lost it when she saw the broken vase.

Did you see Brian lose it at the meeting?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

lose（遺失）是最通用的詞，指無意間失去某物，不論是物理物品（lose keys）還是抽象事物（lose hope）。misplace（放錯地方）專指把某物放在某處後忘記放在哪裡，通常暗示東西還在且可能找回，語氣較 lose 正式，例如「I misplaced my reading glasses — they must be in the study.」forfeit（喪失、被沒收）強調因違規或未履行義務而被剝奪，語氣最強烈，常見於法律或合約場景，例如「The team forfeited the match because they arrived late.」waste（浪費）指沒有善用時間、錢財或機會，有主觀判斷的貶義，例如「Felix wasted a whole afternoon waiting for a delivery that never came.」在遺失物品時用 lose 或 misplace 皆可，但若涉及懲罰性失去用 forfeit，涉及不善用資源則用 waste。

lose ↗misplaceforfeitwaste ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • lose sight of
  • lose touch with
  • lose track of
  • lose count of

Prepositions

Etymology

古日耳曼語古英語中古英語英語

lose 源自中古英語 losen、lusen，最終可追溯到古英語 losian（意為「毀滅、遺失、消失」）。同源詞包括古英語 lēosan（失去）與古高地德語 firliosan（失去）。現代拼法 lose 在晚期中古英語中固定下來，與名詞 loss 和形容詞 lost 屬於同一詞源家族。