Phrase guide

lose out

verb · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To be at a disadvantage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • People who do not speak a second language find that they lose out when looking for a job.
  • I think you will lose out on the exchange rate if you move to dollars now.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be defeated (by).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I went for a job interview, but I lost out to a younger guy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 錯過 /错过 (cuòguò) — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position
  • French: rater — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position
  • Galician: perder — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position
  • Galician: desaproveitar — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position
  • Galician: desperdiciar — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position
  • German: etwas verpassen — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position
  • Lithuanian: praleisti — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: gå glipp av — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position
  • Spanish: desaprovechar — to be in a losing or disadvantageous position