Lose
volume
British pronunciation/lˈuːz/
American pronunciation/ˈɫuz/

Definition & Meaning of "lose"

to lose
01

to be deprived of or stop having someone or something

Transitive: to lose sth
to lose definition and meaning
example
Example
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She lost her hearing as a result of the loud explosion.
The town lost power during the blackout.
1.1

to fail or cause someone to fail to get someone or something

Ditransitive: to lose sb sth
example
Example
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Her procrastination may lose her the scholarship.
His overconfidence could lose him the election.
1.2

to waste or fail to have good use of time or an opportunity

Transitive: to lose time or opportunity
example
Example
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Do n't lose any more time; start your homework now.
She lost valuable hours waiting for the delayed flight.
1.3

to experience a reduction or decrease in the quantity or amount of something

Transitive: to lose sth
example
Example
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She 's been working hard to lose excess body fat.
I 'm losing my hair as I get older.
02

to not know the location of a thing or person and be unable to find it

Transitive: to lose sb/sth
to lose definition and meaning
example
Example
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I ca n't find my phone; I think I've lost it.
She lost her wallet on the way home from work.
2.1

to become so immersed in one's thoughts, fantasies, or imagination that one temporarily disconnects from the present reality

Transitive: to lose oneself in sth
example
Example
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She often lost herself in daydreaming, envisioning a world of adventure.
While gazing at the stars, he lost himself in contemplation of the universe.
2.2

to escape from or get rid of someone or something

Transitive: to lose sb
example
Example
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They lost the paparazzi by taking a secret exit.
I lost my stalker by taking a different route home.
2.3

to fail to understand, hear, or see

Transitive: to lose sth
example
Example
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I lost track of the conversation amid the noise.
Her message was lost in the chaos of the protest.
2.4

to cause someone to become confused and be no longer able to understand or follow an explanation or argument

Transitive: to lose sb
example
Example
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His explanation became so technical that he lost me completely.
She delved into complex theories, and she lost me after a few sentences.
2.5

to become directionally confused or disoriented, or unable to find one's intended path, direction, or location

Transitive: to lose one's way
example
Example
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The heavy snowfall made it difficult to see, and we lost our way.
Without GPS, it 's easy to lose your way in this maze-like city.
2.6

to deviate or stray from a particular belief or ideology one once followed

Transitive: to lose one's ideological path
example
Example
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After years of questioning, he lost his way in the religion he was raised in.
She used to be a dedicated environmentalist, but she has lost her way in recent years.
03

to not win in a race, fight, game, etc.

Intransitive: to lose to an opponent
Transitive: to lose a competition
to lose definition and meaning
example
Example
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They lost the boxing match in the final round.
They lost the soccer game in overtime.
3.1

to cause someone to not win in a race, fight, game, etc.

Ditransitive: to lose sb a competition
Transitive: to lose a competition for sb
example
Example
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His missed penalty kick lost the game for his team.
Her stumble in the final lap lost her the race.
04

to be deprived of someone because they are no longer alive

Transitive: to lose sb
example
Example
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She lost her mother to cancer.
They lost their daughter in a tragic accident.
4.1

(of a pregnant person) to suffer the loss of a baby through miscarriage or during childbirth

Transitive: to lose a baby
example
Example
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Losing a baby in childbirth is a tragic experience for any family.
The couple grieved deeply when they lost their child to a miscarriage.
4.2

to suffer death or to pass away

Transitive: to lose one's life
example
Example
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In the fire, they lost their lives while trying to save others.
Many soldiers lost their lives during the war.
05

to earn less than one's expenditure, especially in business

Transitive: to lose money
example
Example
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The store is losing money during the slow season.
The company is losing revenue because of market fluctuations.
06

to remove a particular part or feature of something that is considered unnecessary or unwanted

Transitive: to lose a part of something
example
Example
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The editor suggested we lose the lengthy introduction to make the article more concise.
You can lose the extra details in the report to keep it focused on the main points.
07

(of clocks or watches) to operate slower than what is normal and to show time behind the correct time

Transitive: to lose time
example
Example
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My watch loses five minutes every week; I need to get it fixed.
This timer is reliable; it wo n't lose a second.
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