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
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
Jane James, the council's Conservative cabinet member for corporate services, said Holt Hall had been losing money every year.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 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
During that particular game, two years ago, Conner and I had been losing, so he suggested pooling our efforts.
From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence
