Synonyms of lose

lose

verb

ˈlüz 

1

as in to miss

to be unable to find or have at hand

I always lose my keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• miss
• forget
• misplace
• mislay
• pass over
• overlook

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

• drop
• forfeit

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• win
• prevail (over)
• triumph (over)
• nail (down)
• conquer

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

• fall
• falter
• throw
• fail
• miss
• bow out
• take the count
• forfeit
• tank
• collapse
• strike out
• flop
• fold
• crack (up)
• flunk
• wash out
• founder
• bomb

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• win
• prevail
• triumph
• succeed
• conquer
• thrive
• flourish
• prosper

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

• discard
• dump
• ditch
• unload
• abandon
• shed
• scrap
• reject
• eliminate
• jettison
• remove
• toss
• chuck
• exorcise
• throw away
• cast (off)
• slough (off)
• set aside
• junk
• shuck (off)
• fling (off or away)
• throw out
• lay by
• dispose of
• sluff (off)
• forsake
• dismiss
• deep-six
• abdicate
• eradicate
• pitch
• abolish
• eighty-six
• cashier
• desert
• kick out
• wipe out
• annihilate
• extinguish
• expunge
• liquidate
• exterminate
• extirpate
• stamp (out)
• root (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adopt
• use
• embrace
• take on
• employ
• utilize
• retain
• keep
• hold
• hold back

5

as in to spend

to use up carelessly

we lost a good hour while he tried to find his keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spend
• waste
• squander
• dissipate
• throw away
• blow
• misspend
• lavish
• run through
• trifle (away)
• fritter (away)
• consume
• fiddle away
• deplete
• play ducks and drakes with
• splurge
• impoverish
• expend
• indulge
• exhaust
• disburse
• overindulge
• overspend
• lay out
• shoot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conserve
• protect
• preserve
• save
• economize
• skimp
• hoard
• scrimp
• lay up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lose

England were torn apart and were lucky to only lose 2-1. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026

While representing the southwest Salt Lake Valley and parts of deep-red Utah County in the former 4th district, he was considered the most conservative House Democrat during his single term by one analysis, before losing reelection to a Republican. —ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026

Those appearances suggested to Democrats that Piker's massive following represented an untapped opportunity to reach voters the party had lost. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026

OpenAI ditches video generation app Sora, and loses $1 billion from Disney. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing lose

• lose ground
• lose heart
• lose it
• lose one's cool
• lose one's heart (to)
• lose one's lunch
• lose one's temper