Lose Meaning
/luːz/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo cease to have (something) in one's possession or capability.
verbTo cease to have (something) in one's possession or capability., To have (an organ) removed from one's body, especially by accident.
Sentence Examples
It's too bad that I don't need to lose weight.
You made me lose my mind.
People with the disease may lose their ability to communicate.
CEFR Practice Quiz
If you keep making the same mistakes, you will ____ your confidence.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I don't want to ____ my favorite pen, so I always keep it in the same place when I am not using it.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English losen, from Old English losian. The modern pronunciation with /uː/ (instead of the /oʊ~əʊ/ that would be expected from Early Modern /ɔː/) is due to conflation with loose.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him."
— 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
"Forest, who lost striker Kris Boyd to injury seconds before half-time, produced little after the break, with a Tyson sliced shot from 12 yards their only opportunity of note."
— 2011 April 15, Saj Chowdhury, “Norwich 2-1 Nott'm Forest”, in BBC Sport:
"I hold it true, whate’er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
’Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all."
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 44:
"He hath lost his fellows."
— 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
"I fought the battle bravely which I lost, / And lost it but to Macedonians."
— 1692, John Dryden, Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero, a Tragedy:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
If you keep making the same mistakes, you will ____ your confidence.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I don't want to ____ my favorite pen, so I always keep it in the same place when I am not using it.