lose

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verb

Definition of LOSE

1

to be unable to find or have at hand <I always lose my keys>

Synonyms mislay, misplace

Related Words forget, miss, overlook, pass over

Near Antonyms enjoy, have, hold, keep, occupy, own, possess, retain; descry, detect, find, locate, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down)

2

to fail to win, gain, or obtain <if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs>

Synonyms drop

Related Words forfeit

Near Antonyms conquer, prevail (over), triumph (over)

Antonyms nail (down), win

3

to undergo defeat <she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens>

Synonyms bow out, fall

Related Words falter; tank, throw; forfeit; bomb, collapse, crack (up), fail, flop, flunk, fold, founder, miss, strike out, wash out

Phrases take the count

Near Antonyms flourish, prosper, succeed, thrive

Antonyms conquer, prevail, triumph, win

4

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>

Synonyms cashier, cast (off), chuck, deep-six, ditch, dump, eighty-six (or 86), exorcise (also exorcize), fling (off or away), jettison, junk, lay by, lose, pitch, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (off) also sluff (off), throw away, throw out, toss, unload

Related Words abandon, abdicate, desert, forsake; dismiss, kick out; abolish, annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, liquidate, remove, root (out), stamp (out), wipe out

Near Antonyms adopt, embrace, take on; employ, use, utilize; hold, hold back, keep, retain

5

to use up carelessly <we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys>

Synonyms blow, dissipate, fiddle away, fritter (away), lavish, lose, misspend, run through, spend, squander, throw away, trifle (away)

Related Words splurge; consume, deplete, exhaust, impoverish, overspend, shoot; indulge, overindulge; disburse, expend, lay out

Near Antonyms economize, scrimp, skimp; preserve, protect, save; hoard, lay up

Antonyms conserve