lose

Pronunciation: /luːz/

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Definition of lose

verb (past and past participle lost /lɒst/)

[with object]

1be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something):I’ve lost my appetite Linda was very upset about losing her job the company may find itself losing customers to cheaper rivals
[with two objects] cause (someone) to fail to gain or retain (something):you lost me my appointment at London University
be deprived of (a relative or friend) through their death:she lost her husband in the fire
(of a pregnant woman) miscarry (a baby) or suffer the death of (a baby) during childbirth: am I going to lose the baby?
(be lost) be destroyed or killed, especially as a result of an accident or military action:a fishing disaster in which 129 men were lost
decrease in (body weight); undergo a reduction of (a specified amount of weight): she couldn’t eat and began to lose weight
(of a watch or clock) become slow by (a specified amount of time):this clock will neither gain nor lose a second
(lose it) informal become unable to control one’s temper or emotions:I completely lost it—I was screaming at them

2become unable to find (something or someone):I’ve lost the car keys
cease or become unable to follow (the right route): the clouds came down and we lost the path
evade or shake off (a pursuer):he came after me waving his revolver, but I easily lost him
North American informal get rid of (an undesirable person or thing):lose that creep!
informal cause (someone) to be unable to follow an argument or explanation:sorry, Tim, you’ve lost me there
(lose oneself in/be lost in) be or become deeply absorbed in (something):he had been lost in thought

3fail to win (a game or contest):England lost the first Test match [no object]:they lost by one vote (as adjective losing)the losing side
[with two objects] cause (someone) to fail to win (a game or contest):that shot lost him the championship

4earn less (money) than one is spending or has spent:the paper is losing £1.5 million a month [no object]:he lost heavily on box office flops

5waste or fail to take advantage of (time or an opportunity):he has lost his chance of becoming world No. 1 the government lost no time in holding fresh elections

Phrases

have nothing to lose: be in a situation that is so bad that even if an action is unsuccessful it cannot make it any worse: she decided she had nothing to lose by taking the initiative
lose heart: become discouraged: seeing all the things that had to be done, she lost heart
lose one's heart to: see heart.
lose height: (of an aircraft) descend to a lower level in flight.
lose one's mind (or one's marbles): informal go insane.
lose sleep: [usually with negative] worry about something:no one is losing any sleep over what he thinks of us
lose one's (or the) way: become unable to find one’s way: we took a wrong turn and lost our way; no longer have a clear idea of one’s purpose or motivation in an activity:the company has lost its way and should pull out of general insurance
you can't lose: used to express the belief that someone must inevitably profit from an action or undertaking: we’re offering them for only £2.50—you can’t lose!

Phrasal Verbs

lose out

Origin:

Old English losian 'perish, destroy', also 'become unable to find', from los 'loss'

The verb lose is sometimes mistakenly written as loose, as in this would cause them to loose 20 to 50 per cent (correct form is ... to lose 20 to 50 per cent). There is a word loose, but it is very different—normally an adjective, meaning ‘untethered; not held in place; detached’, as in loose cobbles; the handle was loose; set loose.

lose in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of lose in the US English dictionary

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lose

verb (past and past participle lost /lɒst/)

Phrases

have nothing to lose

lose heart

lose one's heart to

lose height

lose one's mind (or one's marbles)

lose sleep

lose one's (or the) way

you can't lose

Phrasal Verbs

lose out

Origin:

lose in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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