lose out
Britishverb
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(intr, adverb) to be defeated or unsuccessful
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to fail to secure or make use of
we lost out on the sale
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Fail to succeed, be defeated, as in The election's over, and you've lost out . [Mid-1800s]
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Also, . Miss an opportunity to participate, as in We came so late that we lost out on our chance to see her dance , or The Republicans lost out in last fall's elections . [ Colloquial ; mid-1900s] Also see miss out on .
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.
Arbitrators who are employed time and time again by the same companies with a large number of contracts that require arbitration may be loath to rule against them and lose out on their next paycheck.
From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026
So if a player gets picked a few slots lower than expected, he could lose out on a few million dollars over the life of his rookie contract.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026
Daniel Crane, a University of Michigan antitrust professor, said he believes that customers lose out when carmakers are forced to sell through dealers only.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026
"Specifically billions for our exporters -- everyone will earn, Ukraine will earn, we won't lose out."
From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026
Like if I’m pitted against anyone standing here in this circle, they’re going to see me as Community College Ben and not Yale Ben, and I’ll lose out.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
