lose
verb (used with object)
to come to be without (something in one's possession or care), through accident, theft, etc., so that there is little or no prospect of recovery.
had been losing
-
past perfect progressiveof lose.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The San Francisco Bay Area, which had been losing citizens as well, seems to be building some buzz.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Before the meeting, Alexander told BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast that there had been no "serious commercial offer" for the Mossmorran site that could keep it open, warning that it had been losing £1m a month.
From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2025
Leo’s veterinarian said in his case file that he had been losing weight throughout the year and had urine scald, a condition the vet said couldn’t be treated in the lab setting.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 13, 2023
Then Gardner’s office, which had been losing key lawyers, failed to appear on the first day of a high-profile murder trial of a man accused of killing someone on the grounds of the Gateway Arch.
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2023
Ellsberg had been losing weight steadily throughout the trial.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
