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
Punishments for killing a grizzly include a maximum civil penalty of $10,000, up to six months in jail, and losing hunting privileges for one to three years, the wildlife agency’s spokesperson T.J. Ross told McClatchy News by email May 21.
—
Helena Wegner, Idaho Statesman, 22 May 2025
The submersible's mother ship, the MV Polar Prince, lost contact with the Titan just over an hour and a half into its descent, and a field of debris later identified as the remnants of the imploded sub was discovered four days later.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 22 May 2025
Andrew Marchand writes that the show lost its way in recent years, but that won’t change its place in my heart.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 22 May 2025
The Lions were a laughingstock of the NFL and made the playoffs three times from 2000-20, losing in the wild-card round each time.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lose
Helena Wegner, Idaho Statesman, 22 May 2025
The submersible's mother ship, the MV Polar Prince, lost contact with the Titan just over an hour and a half into its descent, and a field of debris later identified as the remnants of the imploded sub was discovered four days later.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 22 May 2025
Andrew Marchand writes that the show lost its way in recent years, but that won’t change its place in my heart.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 22 May 2025
The Lions were a laughingstock of the NFL and made the playoffs three times from 2000-20, losing in the wild-card round each time.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lose
Verb
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Both teams had their first two penalties saved, before Steaua eventually got themselves together to score two… which was enough because Barca missed all four of theirs.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Kirsten Acuna,
People.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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With Philips dropping down, Pannek perfectly placed the puck in the pocket above Philips’ right shoulder.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
27 May 2025
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The car dropped her off at a restaurant on the Upper West Side.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
Verb
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More: Stocks fall, Dow down 800 points as bonds tank amid tax debate.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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Long-term Treasuries fell further Thursday; and yields, which trade in opposite direction to prices, continued to surge.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
Verb
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The first-stage booster that had been tapped during the original attempts was discarded for a new booster.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2025
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Disposable paper dresses enjoyed a brief vogue in the turbulent late 1960s, when young people literally wore their politics and interests on their sleeves—but were prepared to discard them as easily as a piece of Kleenex.—
Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 May 2025
Verb
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In their 1995 trial, jewelry sales representative Mary Ellen Mahar testified that the brothers had come to her store just four days after the killings and spent about $15,000 on three Rolex watches.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2025
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Africa has rarely ranked high on the Pentagon’s list of priorities, but the U.S. has still spent hundreds of millions of dollars on security assistance and has roughly 6,500 Africa Command personnel on the continent.—
Sam Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Verb
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Don’t forget about your smartwatch, fitness tracker, or smart ring.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
23 May 2025
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Just don’t forget to click the coupon for extra savings.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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But after a flagrant foul by Clark against Reese on Saturday, all the prior talk from each athlete about a lack of a rivalry seemed to falter.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 May 2025
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If trade negotiations falter, these tariffs could take effect, potentially igniting a trade war and unsettling global markets.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Off the northwestern coast of Africa, scientists aboard a research vessel pulled up the trawling net and dumped their catch onto the deck.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
23 May 2025
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Mathis then described a scenario involving her daughter, who had developed a habit of dumping her food on the floor and throwing her plate when finished.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lose. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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