Meaning

(transitive) To cease to have (something) in one's possession or capability..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To cease to have (something) in one's possession or capability.
2. (transitive) To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to find; to go astray from.
3. (transitive) To become a defeated competitor in (a game, competition, trial, etc).
4. (intransitive) To be defeated (in a game, competition, contest, etc.)
5. (transitive) To be unable to follow or trace (somebody or something) any longer.
6. (transitive) To cause (somebody) to be unable to follow or trace one any longer.
7. (transitive) To cease exhibiting; to overcome (a behavior or emotion).
8. (transitive, informal) To shed, remove, discard, or eliminate.

Example Sentences

If you lose that ten-pound note, you'll be sorry.

He lost his hearing in the explosion.

She lost her position when the company was taken over.

Douglas: I took some of the pension money out of the bank and I lost it on a horse. Nolan: Gambling with our employees' pensions? Douglas: Gambling? No. I was riding the horse. It fell out of my pocket.

Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.

Forest, who lost striker Kris Boyd to injury seconds before half-time, produced little after the break, with a Tyson sliced shot from 12 yards their only opportunity of note.

I lost my way in the forest.

He hath lost his fellows.

Word Forms

• loses
• losing
• lost
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• lose
• losest
• lostest
• loseth
• -

Synonyms for lose

Antonyms for lose

Related Words

When Should You Use Lose?

Use lose when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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