lose

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

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

   • 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.
2. 2

   To wander from

   To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to find; to go astray from.

   • I lost my way in the forest.
   • He hath lost his fellows.
3. 3

   To become a defeated competitor in (a game, competition, trial, etc).

   • We lost the football match.
   • You just lost The Game.
   • I fought the battle bravely which I lost, / And lost it but to Macedonians.
4. ›+ 10 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To be defeated (in a game, competition, contest, etc.)

      • The team scored four goals but still managed to lose.
   2. 5

      To be unable to follow or trace (somebody or something) any longer.

      • The policeman lost the robber he was chasing.
      • Mission control lost the satellite as its signal died down.
   3. 6

      To cause (somebody) to be unable to follow or trace one any longer.

      • lose the cops
      • We managed to lose our pursuers in the forest.
   4. 7

      To cease exhibiting

      To cease exhibiting; to overcome (a behavior or emotion).

      • Her attitude was so bad my mother wound up telling her, “You know we really don't have to be standing here talking to you, so you can lose the attitude or you can leave.
   5. 8

      To shed, remove, discard, or eliminate.

      • When we get into the building, please lose the hat.
      • You can bet that the next woman who "loses" the top half of her bikini at the beach was born under the sign of Libra.
   6. 9

      Of a clock, to run slower than expected.

      • My watch loses five minutes a week.
      • It's already 5:30? My watch must have lost a few minutes.
   7. 10

      To cause (someone) the loss of something

      To cause (someone) the loss of something; to deprive of.

      • O false heart! thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory.
      • a. 1699, Sir William Temple, 1st Baronet, On the Excesses of Grief How should you go about to lose him a wife he loves with so much passion?
      • Anyone who knew you were gay, especially if they were straight, had life-and-death power over you. That person could lose you your job, get you evicted, or have you generally hounded out of town.
   8. 11

      To fail to catch with the mind or senses

      To fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss.

      • I lost a part of what he said.
   9. 12

      Alternative form of loos (“praise

      Alternative form of loos (“praise; fame; reputation”).

   10. 13

       A surname from German.

The neighborhood

• synonymleave behindcease to have in one's possession
• synonymmislaycease to have in one's possession
• synonym(fail to win: forfeit
• synonym(shed: drop, shed
• synonymforlese
• synonymlose
• antonymcome acrossantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonymdiscoverantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonymfindantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonymgainantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonymacquireantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonymprocureantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonymgetantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonympick upantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonymsnagantonym(s) of “cease to have in one's possession”
• antonymwinantonym(s) of
• antonymgain, put onantonym(s) of
• antonymcome firstantonym(s) of “fail to be the winner”
• neighborlosel
• neighborloser
• neighborloss
• neighborsteal
• neighborabandon
• neighbordrop
• neighborforfeit
• neighborgive
• neighborgive away
• neighbormislay
• neighbormisplace
• neighborsell