Phrase guide

lose it

verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be overcome with emotion.

To become explosively angry; to lose one's temper.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • When my dad found out I had failed the exams, he just lost it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be overcome with emotion.

To feel devastated, or distraught, especially when one's sadness is overwhelming.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • When she heard the news about her cousin's death, she lost it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To be overcome with emotion.

To begin to laugh uncontrollably.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • When the teacher's chair broke, the class completely lost it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To be overcome with emotion.

To lose one's mind, go crazy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To cease to have a skill or ability, to lose one's touch, to be washed up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • When you think about all she's done for the sport, it's kind of sad, but she's completely lost it over the past few years.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To lose control of a situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lose, it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

lose control of one's emotions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely
  • When her baby died, she snapped

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: break down, snap

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: act, behave, do

Narrower terms: dissolve, die, fall apart, go to pieces

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: menettää malttinsa — to lose one's temper
  • German: die Beherrschung verlieren — to lose one's temper
  • German: die Selbstbeherrschung verlieren — to lose one's temper
  • Italian: perdere le staffe — to lose one's temper
  • Māori: tātāhau — to lose one's temper
  • Norwegian: klikke — to lose one's temper
  • Portuguese: perder a linha — to lose one's temper
  • Portuguese: perder as estribeiras — to lose one's temper
  • Spanish: perder los papeles — to lose one's temper
  • Spanish: enajenarse — to lose one's temper
  • Spanish: perder los nervios — to lose one's temper
  • Spanish: desmadrarse — to lose one's temper
  • Spanish: desmelenarse — to lose one's temper
  • Spanish: desmandarse — to lose one's temper
  • Spanish: despendolarse — to lose one's temper