Synonyms of lost

lost 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlȯst 

as in missing

no longer possessed

we searched all over the house for the lost keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• missing
• gone
• misplaced
• mislaid
• forgotten
• absent
• irretrievable
• irrecoverable
• unknown
• castaway

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• retained
• possessed
• owned
• loved
• valued
• protected
• cherished
• treasured
• prized

lost

2 of 2

verb

past tense of lose

1

as in missed

to be unable to find or have at hand

I always lose my keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• missed
• misplaced
• forgot
• mislaid
• passed over
• overlooked

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• had
• retained
• owned
• possessed
• occupied
• enjoyed
• kept
• held
• found
• located
• detected
• ran down
• tracked (down)
• scared up
• scouted (up)
• descried

2

as in dropped

to fail to win, gain, or obtain

if the team loses this game, they're out of the play-offs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dropped
• forfeited

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• won
• conquered
• nailed (down)
• prevailed (over)
• triumphed (over)

3

as in fell

to undergo defeat

she really hates to lose at anything, and inevitably throws tantrums when it happens

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fell
• faltered
• threw
• bowed out
• missed
• took the count
• failed
• forfeited
• collapsed
• flopped
• tanked
• struck out
• cracked (up)
• flunked
• folded
• foundered
• washed out
• bombed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• won
• prevailed
• conquered
• succeeded
• triumphed
• flourished
• prospered
• thrived

4

as in discarded

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

• discarded
• dumped
• ditched
• unloaded
• abandoned
• scrapped
• shed
• rejected
• jettisoned
• removed
• junked
• tossed
• eliminated
• chucked
• exorcised
• laid by
• flung (off or away)
• threw away
• shucked (off)
• cast (off)
• sloughed (off)
• set aside
• disposed of
• cashiered
• threw out
• sluffed (off)
• deep-sixed
• dismissed
• eighty-sixed
• abdicated
• deserted
• forsook
• pitched
• eradicated
• abolished
• kicked out
• wiped out
• annihilated
• extinguished
• expunged
• exterminated
• extirpated
• liquidated
• stamped (out)
• rooted (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adopted
• used
• employed
• embraced
• utilized
• retained
• took on
• held
• kept
• held back

5

as in spent

to use up carelessly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spent
• wasted
• squandered
• dissipated
• threw away
• misspent
• blew
• frittered (away)
• lavished
• ran through
• fiddled away
• consumed
• depleted
• trifled (away)
• exhausted
• played ducks and drakes with
• impoverished
• expended
• splurged
• indulged
• disbursed
• laid out
• overspent
• overindulged
• shot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conserved
• preserved
• protected
• saved
• skimped
• laid up
• hoarded
• economized
• scrimped

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lost

Adjective

After the upheaval of the coronavirus pandemic, followed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes that snarled the production pipeline, many industry observers feared that Zoomers were a lost demographic. — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

Initially, the move signaled a lost season, but the team has since engineered a remarkable midseason turnaround, now firmly back in the American League playoff race. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Verb

Berryessa Union has lost nearly a quarter of its students over the last decade, leaving a $6-million budget deficit. — Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

The Lakers lost in the first round to Phoenix in seven games. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026