lose Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
lose definition

lose (lo̵̅o̅z)

transitive verb lost, losing los′·ing

    1. to bring to ruin or destruction a ship lost in the storm
    2. Theol. to incur the damnation of to lose one's soul
  2. to become unable to find; mislay to lose one's keys
    1. to have taken from one by negligence, accident, death, removal, separation, etc.; suffer the loss of; be deprived of
    2. to suffer the miscarriage or stillbirth of (a baby)
  4. to get rid of (something undesirable) to lose unwanted weight
  5. to fail to keep or maintain to lose one's temper, to lose speed
    1. to fail to see, hear, or understand she did not lose a word of his speech
    2. to fail to keep in sight, mind, or existence
  7. to fail to have, get, take advantage of, etc.; miss to lose one's chance
  8. to fail to win or gain to lose a game
  9. to cause the loss of it lost him his job
  10. to cause to go astray, become bewildered, etc.
  11. to wander from and not be able to find (one's way, the right track, etc.)
  12. to fail or be unable to make proper use of; waste to lose time
  13. to leave behind; outdistance
  14. to engross or preoccupy: usually in the passive to be lost in reverie
  15. to go slower by a watch that loses two minutes a day

Etymology: ME losen, lesen, merging OE losian, to lose, be lost (< los, loss) + leosan, to lose, akin to OHG (vir)liosan, Goth (fra)liusan < IE base *leu-, to cut off, separate > Gr lyein, to dissolve; L luere, to loose, release (from debt)

intransitive verb

  1. to undergo or suffer loss
  2. to be defeated in a contest, etc.
  3. to be slow: said of a clock, etc.

Related Forms:

lose Idioms

lose it

Informal
  1. to fail to maintain one's composure, as by an outburst of anger, laughter, etc.
  2. to suffer temporary or permanent diminution of one's ability, skill, etc. the pitcher lost it in the sixth inning

lose oneself

  1. to lose one's way; go astray; become bewildered
  2. to become absorbed
  3. to disappear from view or notice

lose out

☆
Informal to fail; be unsuccessful

lose out on

☆
Informal to fail to win, gain, or take advantage of

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms lose idiom

lose Synonyms

lose

v.

  1. To bring about a loss

    mislay, forget, be careless with; see misplace.

  2. To incur loss

    suffer, miss, be deprived of, fail to keep, suffer loss, be reduced by, be impoverished from, become poorer by, be at a disadvantage because of, let slip through the fingers*, come out of the small end of the horn*; see also waste 1.

    Antonyms profit*, gain*, improve. *

  3. To fail to win

    be defeated, suffer defeat, be worsted, be left behind, be outdistanced, go down in defeat, succumb, fall, be the loser, miss, have the worst of it, be humbled, take defeat at the hands of, drop*, go down for the count*, get it in the neck*, come out on the short end of the score*, be sunk*; see also fail 1.

    Antonyms win*, triumph*, be victorious.

  4. To suffer financially

    squander, expend, dissipate; see spend 1, waste 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

lose Usage Examples

Object

  • sight: The US must never lose sight of its traditions of individual freedom.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • due: Those who have booked half or full board may lose a meal due to their time of arrival or departure from their hotel.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • out: I do not want the arts at the top end to lose out, " she told the culture committee.

Used with why or when

  • when: But sometimes it does seem that a sense of perspective can be lost when determining what is reasonable.

Preposition: in

  • transit: Lost Packages Despite our best efforts parcels are ocassionally lost in transit.
lose usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

lose quotes

Perdre Mais perdre vraiment Pour laisser place a'   la trouvaille Perdre La vie pour trouver laVictoire. To lose But really to lose And make room for discovery To lose Life so as to discover Victory.

-Kostrowitzki

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Atimeto be born, and atimeto die; atimetoplant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; Atimetoweep, and atimeto laugh; atimetomourn, and a time to dance: A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

-Bible (Old Testament)

for whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it's always ourselves we find in the sea

-cummings, e e pen name of  Edward Estlin Cummings

lose quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"lose." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/lose>

APA Style

lose. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/lose

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment