lose out

verb

lost out; losing out; loses out

intransitive verb

: to fail to win in competition : fail to receive an expected reward or gain

Examples of lose out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fewer movies and films are getting made, and Los Angeles, once the nexus of TV and film production, is losing out not only to other states but to Canada, Great Britain, Central Europe and Australia. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 Bauer threw 84 pitches, striking out seven hitters and walking just one to lose out on the perfect game. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026 Kempthorne lost out to Utah’s governor, only to be picked by Bush three years later to run the Interior Department. Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2026 Middle-income households who prize the American dream of a single-family home with a backyard in the suburbs, but who can’t afford to buy or prefer the flexibility of renting, would lose out. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lose out

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lose out was circa 1858

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lose out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lose%20out. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster