lose
lose Lexical Profile
lose Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To be deprived of or cease to have or retain something, whether by accident, misfortune, or natural gradual decline.
"Many deciduous trees lose their leaves in late autumn as temperatures drop."
To become unable to find someone or something after misplacing it.
"Make sure to zip your pocket so you do not lose your keys during the hike."
To fail to win a game, contest, argument, or election.
"Even if our debate team should lose the final round, we have learned a great deal from the tournament."
To fail to make use of, take advantage of, or keep up with time or an opportunity.
"We must not lose this rare opportunity to modernize the public transit system."
To evade, outdistance, or shake off a pursuer.
"The fox darted into the dense underbrush to lose the hounds."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently confused in spelling with 'loose', which is primarily an adjective meaning 'not tight or firmly fixed' (pronounced with an unvoiced 's' sound) rather than the verb 'lose' (pronounced with a voiced 'z' sound).
• Rhymes for lose
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'losian' ('to perish' or 'become lost'), which later merged in Middle English with the related verb 'leosan' ('to forfeit' or 'be deprived of'), ultimately tracing back to the Proto-Germanic root '*lausa-'.