Meaning
Lose
- To fail to keep something, to misplace it, or to be defeated
- Can refer to objects, opportunities, time, or competitions
Get lost
- Literally: to become lost and not know your location
- Informally/rudely: to tell someone to go away
Usage
Lose
- Can be used with objects (e.g., lose keys), situations (e.g., lose time), or competitions (e.g., lose a game)
- Always followed by the thing that is lost
Get lost
- When literal, used without an object (e.g., “I got lost in the city”)
- When figurative/rude, used as a command (e.g., “Get lost!”)
How is 'lose' used in a sentence?
'Lose' is used with the thing that is lost (e.g., lose keys, lose time).
'Lose' must be followed by the thing that is lost (e.g., 'lose my keys', 'lose the game').
Examples
Lose
| Example | Example |
|---|---|
| I always lose my keys. | She lost the race. |
| Don’t lose hope. | We lost the game yesterday. |
| He lost his job. | They lost interest quickly. |
Get lost
| Example | Example |
|---|---|
| I got lost on my way home. | We got lost in the museum. |
| Get lost! (rude) | He told me to get lost. |
| Don’t tell me to get lost. | Why did you get lost downtown? |
What does 'I got lost on my way home' mean?
I did not know the correct way and couldn’t find my way home.
'Got lost' means the person didn’t know the way and couldn’t find their way home easily.
Summary
- Lose = fail to keep/find something or be defeated
- Get lost (literal) = become lost/confused about location
- Get lost (figurative) = rude way to tell someone to go away
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
