lose
A2Neutral/Informal
Definition
Meaning
to cease to have or possess; to become unable to find.
To fail to win; to suffer deprivation; to become worse off; to escape from or be free of.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Inchoative verb indicating a change of state; often implies an undesirable or unintentional outcome. 'Lose' is irregular (lose-lost-lost) and distinct from the adjective 'loose'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: identical. Minor usage differences: 'lose out' (fail to benefit) is slightly more common in AmE. 'Lose your rag' (lose temper) is UK slang.
Connotations
Universally negative connotations associated with loss, failure, or deprivation.
Frequency
Extremely high-frequency in both varieties with negligible difference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] lose [NP][NP] lose [NP] to [NP][NP] lose [AdjP] (e.g., lose red)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “lose your head (panic)”
- “lose touch (become out of contact)”
- “lose face (be humiliated)”
- “lose heart (become discouraged)”
- “lose the plot (become confused/irrational)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To suffer a financial deficit: 'The company stands to lose millions.'
Academic
To fail to retain or maintain: 'The model loses predictive power over time.'
Everyday
To misplace an object: 'I always lose my keys.'
Technical
In physics/engineering: to dissipate energy; in signal processing: to attenuate.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They might lose the match if they're not careful.
- Don't lose your rail ticket.
- The government is losing support.
American English
- The team could lose the game in the final minutes.
- Try not to lose your driver's license.
- He's losing his patience with the project.
adverb
British English
- None standard.
American English
- None standard.
adjective
British English
- None standard. 'Lost' is the adjective form.
American English
- None standard. 'Lost' is the adjective form.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I often lose my pen.
- Did your team lose the game?
- If you're not organised, you'll lose important documents.
- He started to lose interest in the hobby.
- The company stands to lose a significant market share to its competitors.
- She feared she would lose sight of her original goals.
- The incumbent party is rapidly losing ground in the polls due to the scandal.
- One risks losing credibility if the data is not meticulously sourced.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
You can lose only one 'o'. Loose has two 'o's because something loose is extra.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSION IS HAVING AN OBJECT; LOSING IS THE OBJECT MOVING AWAY/ESCAPING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusion with 'loose' (свободный, неплотный).
- Using 'lose' for 'miss' (as in 'I miss you' - 'I lose you' is wrong).
- Overusing 'lose' when 'waste' (тратить) or 'spend' is more appropriate for time/money.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling: 'loose' vs. 'lose'.
- Incorrect past tense: 'losed' instead of 'lost'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'lose from' instead of 'lose to' in competitive contexts.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'lose' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Lose' is a verb meaning to cease to have. 'Loose' is mainly an adjective meaning not tight or not firmly fixed.
It is irregular: lose (present) - lost (past) - lost (past participle).
Rarely, but possible, e.g., 'lose weight' (if desired), 'lose a bad habit'.
Typically 'to': 'We lost the match to the champions.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Verbs
A1 · 50 words · Essential action words used in everyday conversation.