1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to spend
to use up carelessly
we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
That same Texas team also lost to Ohio State in the first week of the year.
—
Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The top six lost its spark and there weren’t enough lineup shake-ups to fix it.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
The reservoir, which is operated by Denver Water, is being drawn down for the summer, to redirect water to another reservoir where less will be lost to evaporation.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lose
Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The top six lost its spark and there weren’t enough lineup shake-ups to fix it.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 2 June 2026
The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
The reservoir, which is operated by Denver Water, is being drawn down for the summer, to redirect water to another reservoir where less will be lost to evaporation.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lose
Verb
-
Insider tip Don't miss the amuse bouches, rotating macrobiotic bites that will be brought to your room right after check-in.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
If a voter’s signature is missing or does not match the signature on file, California law requires elections officials to notify that voter and give them an opportunity to fix the problem, which can also delay the process.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Rays speedster Chandler Simpson dropped down a bunt and rushed the Angels into an error.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
However, the anticipated state finals clash was not to be as Calabasas dropped the baton in the Southern Section finals and failed to advance.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
For the Fever, who entered the season as championship contenders, the first 10 games have fallen well short of expectations, as scrutiny continues to mount on head coach Stephanie White.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
-
Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands peaked in 2024 at nearly 47,000, but have fallen dramatically, with just over 2,000 people landing there in the first four months of 2026.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
That creature cruelly draining and discarding the aged?—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
-
The first-stage booster that had been tapped during the original attempts was discarded for a new booster.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Robert had spent the last few years accruing credit card points—more on that below—in the hopes of planning a blowout honeymoon experience for the wanderlusting couple, who had previously traveled together to romantic destinations like Japan and the south of France.—
Kaitlin Menza,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Grown-ups bring a ladder to climb into the enormous fruit, kids gather up their inflatable toys, someone makes a waterslide out of a piece of rind, and the whole community spends the day splashing in the juice and pulp (being careful to remove the seeds first).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Don’t forget to use the code SUNSHINE at checkout to get the extra discount.—
Robin Raven,
Travel + Leisure,
3 June 2026
-
By catering to his ego, international leaders can persuade Washington to forget—or at least to ignore—past tensions.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Every neighborhood has its own part in the story too, as the nightlife nexus has migrated up and down Manhattan, shimmied across the East River and back, and transformed, faltered, and thrived again over the past six decades.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
But, as talks have publicly faltered in the past week, both sides have launched fresh strikes.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
If an Islander isn’t chosen, this often means that they have been dumped from the island.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
-
Watch parties became a go-to event for fans to observe their favorite contestants, make up, break up or get dumped from the island.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lose. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
