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lose

verb

ˈlüz How to pronounce lose (audio)
Definition of losenext
1
as in to miss
to be unable to find or have at hand I always lose my keys

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to drop
to fail to win, gain, or obtain if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fall
to undergo defeat she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to discard
to get rid of as useless or unwanted we told the recent grad to lose the flashy shirts and dress conservatively for the job interview

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to spend
to use up carelessly we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lose With the Current losing staffers and players in a personnel upheaval this season, Leetzow was ready to pick up exiting talent. — Pj Green september 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026 Wolfe was charged with the run, and the Jays lost the game, 10-5. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 Steyer finished third in the primary, narrowly losing to Republican Steve Hilton in California’s top-two system. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026 Arguably, the most important opportunity cost for Thompson is losing the ability to save for the future, at least right now. — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lose
  1. miss
  2. drop
  3. fall
  4. discard
  5. spend
  6. forget
  7. falter
  8. dump
Verb
  • Authorities have launched a multidisciplinary task force, urged families to report missing relatives immediately, and warned against sharing graphic images or rumors online that could inflame panic or inspire copycat attacks.
    — Mogomotsi Magome, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than use an algorithm to identify possible dwarf galaxies, Tortora, also the VST SMASH survey principal investigator, and his colleagues conducted a meticulous visual inspection of VLT images to ensure no potential dwarf galaxies were missed.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of miss
Verb
  • He was brought to the prison infirmary, where numerous guards surrounded, punched, kicked, choked, dropped and manhandled him.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The Cubs, whose magic number to clinch a playoff berth dropped to three with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ loss later Friday, have eight games remaining to try to build some momentum for the playoffs.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of drop
Verb
  • David, not unlike Jerry, was afraid of falling and white-knuckled his way through.
    — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
  • After, tuck yourself into a hammock and gaze up at the stars; you wouldn’t be blamed for falling right asleep.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • Its two outer booster engines were discarded during flight, while the central sustainer continued operating and later helped the converted Atlas launch John Glenn into orbit.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Any Weather Mac is designed to be sustainable from how it’s made to how it’s discarded, with the company taking steps to make sure the product won’t end up in a landfill.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of discard
Verb
  • Home-server owners will already understand the attraction, and the pro’s solved this ages ago but spent a lot more than this.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The president responded by saying his administration wouldn't spend the $257 million appropriated by Congress on renovating the building unless the building also bears his name.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of spend
Verb
  • Silence by artists in the face of genocide and apartheid will not be forgotten.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
  • And don’t forget to carry the one … or many signs to the new building.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of forget
Verb
  • The grandees of Gullen have set their hopes on Claire’s bankrolling their faltering community’s recovery.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The third such report from the powerful Board of Supervisors last week is very similar to language in a Paramount statement of September 8 detailing harsh consequences if the merger falters.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of falter
Verb
  • By dumping pro-Palestinian Macklemore from his tour, apolitical Ed Sheeran is suddenly political, argues news and culture critic Lorraine Ali.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • How Monster Depicts the Borden Murders Their first attempt involves serving the couple oysters in May, when the series says the city of Fall River dumps its sewage over the oyster beds, contaminating the shellfish with potentially fatal bacteria.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of dump

Phrases Containing lose

Browse Nearby Words

lorn
lose
lose ground
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Cite this Entry

“Lose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lose. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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