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
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Recent Examples of lose
The Heat has now lost nine of its last 12 games.
—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
The Chicago White Sox lost 4-2 to the Baltimore Orioles at Rate Field on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
—Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Auriemma’s, UConn’s Hall-of-Fame women’s basketball coach, had an uncharacteristic melt-down during and after his team lost to South Carolina, 62-48, in the semifinals, touching off a shouting match with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Arizona hasn’t had a losing season since 1983, the first year on the job for legendary Lute Olson.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lose
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
The Chicago White Sox lost 4-2 to the Baltimore Orioles at Rate Field on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
—Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Auriemma’s, UConn’s Hall-of-Fame women’s basketball coach, had an uncharacteristic melt-down during and after his team lost to South Carolina, 62-48, in the semifinals, touching off a shouting match with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Arizona hasn’t had a losing season since 1983, the first year on the job for legendary Lute Olson.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lose
Verb
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The league, in its internal evaluations, did not penalize the umps for calling pitches a strike that missed the plate but hit the buffer zone.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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The 12-time All-Star and two-time MVP missed 27 games due to right patellofemoral pain syndrome.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Season 2 of the Netflix iteration dropped all nine of its episodes on April 10, with early promises to stay faithful evaporating as new attractions emerged and simmering resentments boiled over.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
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Independent opinion polls show support for Fidesz has dropped to its lowest level in years.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cortisol levels fell for both groups, according to the study.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
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Put simply, prices must fall still further in these metros for shoppers to cover the monthly nut.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Supporters say her work helped broaden conversations around art, sexuality and censorship, while preserving pieces that might otherwise have remained hidden or discarded.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a medium bowl; discard any lumps.—
Erin Merhar,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Factor in a tax multiplier for those who repeatedly spend past the salary cap, and payroll expenses can include hundreds of millions in taxes.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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How in the world had my mother, a young Black woman and the eldest of four, raised by two parents who had never finished high school in a segregated town in southwestern Louisiana, spent a summer in Europe in the 1960s?—
Shayla Martin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps pitchers and umpires are simply adjusting to the new technology, and by midsummer any early kinks will be forgotten.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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For the best-tasting sandwich, be sure to line both sides of the bun with mayonnaise, and don’t forget a crunchy, cool layer of thick-cut pickles.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In Southern California, researchers are applying the approach to eelgrass, a type of seagrass, as traditional restoration methods falter.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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The match was an Olympics of desperation as the Ducks broke their six-game freefall and San Jose faltered in a must-win position.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Norwegian director balanced horror, humor and action with more panache in the films that put him on the map, Dead Snow and its sequel, which dumped Nazi zombies in mountain woodlands.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
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All studies confirm that San Diegans could save billions in coming decades by dumping for-profit San Diego Gas & Electric in favor of a public electric utility.—
Craig D. Rose,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lose. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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