Lose vs. Win — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 16, 2024
"Lose" means to be defeated or to misplace something, while "win" means to achieve victory or gain something. Both terms are often used in competitive contexts.
Difference Between Lose and Win
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
"Lose" implies failing to achieve a goal or being defeated in a competition. For example, a team that scores fewer points in a game will lose. On the other hand, "win" means to achieve victory or success in a contest or endeavor, like a team that scores the most points will win.
"Lose" can also refer to misplacing something, like losing your keys, which suggests that the item is not where it should be. In contrast, "win" often indicates gaining something positive, such as winning a prize, where the reward is attained through effort or luck.
Emotionally, "lose" often brings feelings of disappointment or frustration, whereas "win" typically elicits joy and a sense of accomplishment. The psychological impact of losing is generally negative, while winning has a positive effect.
In a broader context, "lose" can signify any type of failure or deficit, including losing time, money, or opportunities. Conversely, "win" symbolizes achievement and success across various domains, including personal goals, professional milestones, or competitive sports.
"Lose" is frequently used in idiomatic expressions like "lose your temper" or "lose heart," indicating a loss of control or courage. Meanwhile, "win" is used in phrases like "win the day" or "win over someone," emphasizing triumph or gaining favor.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
To be defeated or misplace something
To achieve victory or gain something
Emotional Impact
Disappointment or frustration
Joy and accomplishment
Broader Context
Failure, deficit
Achievement, success
Idiomatic Usage
Lose temper, lose heart
Win the day, win over someone
Competitive Aspect
Being outperformed
Outperforming others
Compare with Definitions
Lose
To be defeated in a game or competition.
The team is likely to lose the championship.
Win
To gain or obtain something through effort.
She hopes to win a scholarship.
Lose
To misplace something.
I always lose my keys.
Win
To be successful in an endeavor.
He aims to win the argument.
Lose
To fail to take advantage of.
Don’t lose this opportunity.
Win
To reach a desired place or position.
She worked hard to win her promotion.
Lose
Be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something)
Linda was very upset about losing her job
I've lost my appetite
The company may find itself losing customers to cheaper rivals
Win
To achieve victory or finish first in a competition.
Lose
Become unable to find (something or someone)
I've lost the car keys
Win
To achieve success in an effort or venture
Struggled to overcome the handicap and finally won.
Lose
Fail to win (a game or contest)
They lost by one vote
England lost the first Test match
Win
To achieve victory or finish first in
Won the race.
Lose
Earn less (money) than one is spending or has spent
The paper is losing £1.5 million a month
He lost heavily on box office flops
Win
To receive as a prize or reward for performance
Won a gold medal.
Lose
Waste or fail to take advantage of (time or an opportunity)
The government lost no time in holding fresh elections
He has lost his chance of becoming world No. 1
Win
To achieve or obtain by effort
Win concessions in negotiations.
Lose
To be unsuccessful in retaining possession of; mislay
He's always losing his car keys.
Win
To gain (respect or love, for example) by effort
Won their loyalty.
Lose
To be deprived of (something one has had)
Lost her art collection in the fire.
Lost her job.
Win
To make (one's way) with effort.
Lose
To be left alone or desolate because of the death of
Lost his wife.
Win
To reach with difficulty
The ship won a safe port.
Lose
To be unable to keep alive
A doctor who has lost very few patients.
Win
To take in battle; capture
Won the heights after a fierce attack.
Lose
To be unable to keep control or allegiance of
Lost his temper at the meeting.
Is losing supporters by changing his mind.
Win
To succeed in gaining the affection or loyalty of (someone)
He wooed and won her.
Lose
To fail to win; fail in
Lost the game.
Lost the court case.
Win
To succeed in gaining the favor or support of; prevail on
Her eloquence won over the audience.
Lose
To fail to use or take advantage of
Don't lose a chance to improve your position.
Win
To discover and open (a vein or deposit) in mining.
Lose
To fail to hear, see, or understand
We lost the plane in the fog. I lost her when she started speaking about thermodynamics.
Win
To extract from a mine or from mined ore.
Lose
To let (oneself) become unable to find the way.
Win
A victory, especially in a competition.
Lose
To remove (oneself), as from everyday reality into a fantasy world.
Win
First place in a competition.
Lose
To rid oneself of
Lost five pounds.
Win
An amount won or earned.
Lose
To consume aimlessly; waste
Lost a week in idle occupations.
Win
To conquer, defeat.
Lose
To wander from or become ignorant of
Lose one's way.
Win
To reach some destination or object, despite difficulty or toil (now usually intransitive, with preposition or locative adverb).
Lose
To elude or outdistance
Lost their pursuers.
Win
(transitive) To triumph or achieve victory in (a game, a war, etc.).
Lose
To be outdistanced by
Chased the thieves but lost them.
Win
(transitive) To gain (a prize) by succeeding in competition or contest.
To win the jackpot in a lottery;
To win a bottle of wine in a raffle
Lose
To become slow by (a specified amount of time). Used of a timepiece.
Win
(transitive) To obtain (someone) by wooing; to make an ally or friend of (frequently with over).
Lose
To cause or result in the loss of
Failure to reply to the advertisement lost her the job.
Win
(intransitive) To achieve victory.
Who would win in a fight between an octopus and a dolphin?
Lose
To cause to be destroyed. Usually used in the passive
Both planes were lost in the crash.
Win
(intransitive) To have power, coercion or control.
Ever since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Bostonians now run as "One Boston." The terrorists did not win.
Lose
To cause to be damned.
Win
(transitive) To obtain (something desired).
The company hopes to win an order from the government worth over 5 million dollars.
Lose
To suffer loss
Investors who lost heavily on the firm's stock.
Win
(transitive) To cause a victory for someone.
The success of the economic policies should win Mr. Smith the next elections.
The policy success should win the elections for Mr. Smith.
Lose
To be defeated
Our team lost in overtime.
Win
To extract (ore, coal, etc.).
Lose
To operate or run slow. Used of a timepiece.
Win
To defeat or surpass someone or something.
Lose
(transitive) To cause (something) to cease to be in one's possession or capability due to unfortunate or unknown circumstances, events or reasons.
If you lose that ten-pound note, you'll be sorry.
He lost his hearing in the explosion.
She lost her position when the company was taken over.
Win
To dry by exposure to the wind.
Lose
(transitive) To have (an organ) removed from one's body, especially by accident.
Johnny lost a tooth, but kept it for the tooth fairy.
He lost his spleen in a car wreck.
Win
An individual victory.
Our first win of the season put us in high spirits.
Lose
(transitive) To shed (weight).
I’ve lost five pounds this week.
Win
(slang) A feat carried out successfully; a victorious achievement.
Lose
(transitive) To experience the death of (someone to whom one has an attachment, such as a relative or friend).
She lost all her sons in the war.
Win
(obsolete) Gain; profit; income.
Lose
(transitive) To give or owe (money) after losing a bet.
Win
(obsolete) Wealth; goods owned.
Lose
To be deprived of access to something.
Users who engage in disruptive behavior may lose their accounts.
Win
(Scotland) Pleasure; joy; delight.
Lose
To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to find; to go astray from.
I lost my way in the forest.
Win
To gain by superiority in competition or contest; to obtain by victory over competitors or rivals; as, to win the prize in a gate; to win money; to win a battle, or to win a country.
Thy well-breathed horseImpels the flying car, and wins the course.
Lose
(transitive) To fail to win (a game, competition, trial, etc).
We lost the football match.
You just lost The Game.
Win
To allure to kindness; to bring to compliance; to gain or obtain, as by solicitation or courtship.
Thy virtue wan me; with virtue preserve me.
She is a woman; therefore to be won.
Lose
(transitive) To be unable to follow or trace (somebody or something) any longer.
The policeman lost the robber he was chasing.
Mission control lost the satellite as its signal died down.
Win
To gain over to one's side or party; to obtain the favor, friendship, or support of; to render friendly or approving; as, to win an enemy; to win a jury.
Lose
(transitive) To cause (somebody) to be unable to follow or trace one any longer.
We managed to lose our pursuers in the forest.
Win
To come to by toil or effort; to reach; to overtake.
Even in the porch he him did win.
And when the stony path began,By which the naked peak they wan,Up flew the snowy ptarmigan.
Lose
(transitive) To cease exhibiting; to overcome (a behavior or emotion).
Win
To extract, as ore or coal.
Lose
To shed, remove, discard, or eliminate.
When we get into the building, please lose the hat.
Win
To gain the victory; to be successful; to triumph; to prevail.
Nor is it aught but justThat he, who in debate of truth hath won,should win in arms.
Lose
Of a clock, to run slower than expected.
My watch loses five minutes a week.
It's already 5:30? My watch must have lost a few minutes.
Win
A victory (as in a race or other competition);
He was happy to get the win
Lose
(ditransitive) To cause (someone) the loss of something; to deprive of.
Win
Something won (especially money)
Lose
To fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss.
I lost a part of what he said.
Win
Be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious;
He won the Gold Medal in skating
Our home team won
Win the game
Lose
(obsolete) Fame, renown; praise.
Win
Win something through one's efforts;
I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese
Gain an understanding of international finance
Lose
To part with unintentionally or unwillingly, as by accident, misfortune, negligence, penalty, forfeit, etc.; to be deprived of; as, to lose money from one's purse or pocket, or in business or gaming; to lose an arm or a leg by amputation; to lose men in battle.
Fair Venus wept the sad disasterOf having lost her favorite dove.
Win
Obtain advantages, such as points, etc.;
The home team was gaining ground
After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference
Lose
To cease to have; to possess no longer; to suffer diminution of; as, to lose one's relish for anything; to lose one's health.
If the salt hath lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?
Win
Attain success or reach a desired goal;
The enterprise succeeded
We succeeded in getting tickets to the show
She struggled to overcome her handicap and won
Lose
Not to employ; to employ ineffectually; to throw away; to waste; to squander; as, to lose a day; to lose the benefits of instruction.
The unhappy have but hours, and these they lose.
Win
To achieve victory in a competition or contest.
They are determined to win the match.
Lose
To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to and; to go astray from; as, to lose one's way.
He hath lost his fellows.
Win
To attract or earn something, such as attention or support.
His performance will win him many fans.
Lose
To ruin; to destroy; as destroy; as, the ship was lost on the ledge.
The woman that deliberates is lost.
Lose
To be deprived of the view of; to cease to see or know the whereabouts of; as, he lost his companion in the crowd.
Like following life thro' creatures you dissect,You lose it in the moment you detect.
Lose
To fail to obtain or enjoy; to fail to gain or win; hence, to fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss; as, I lost a part of what he said.
He shall in no wise lose his reward.
I fought the battle bravely which I lost,And lost it but to Macedonians.
Lose
To cause to part with; to deprive of.
How should you go about to lose him a wife he loves with so much passion?
Lose
To prevent from gaining or obtaining.
O false heart! thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory.
In the excitement of such a discovery, many scholars lost their heads.
Lose
To suffer loss, disadvantage, or defeat; to be worse off, esp. as the result of any kind of contest.
We 'll . . . hear poor roguesTalk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out.
Lose
Fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense;
She lost her purse when she left it unattended on her seat
Lose
Fail to win;
We lost the battle but we won the war
Lose
Suffer the loss of a person through death or removal;
She lost her husband in the war
The couple that wanted to adopt the child lost her when the biological parents claimed her
Lose
Place (something) where one cannot find it again;
I misplaced my eyeglasses
Lose
Miss from one's possessions; lose sight of;
I've lost my glasses again!
Lose
Allow to go out of sight;
The detective lost the man he was shadowing after he had to stop at a red light
Lose
Fail to make money in a business; make a loss or fail to profit;
I lost thousands of dollars on that bad investment!
The company turned a loss after the first year
The company has not profited from the merger
Lose
Fail to get or obtain;
I lost the opportunity to spend a year abroad
Lose
Retreat
Lose
Fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind;
I missed that remark
She missed his point
We lost part of what he said
Lose
Be set at a disadvantage;
This author really suffers in translation
Lose
To fail to maintain or keep.
He might lose his job if he's late again.
Lose
To experience the death of someone.
She was devastated to lose her grandmother.
Common Curiosities
What does "win" mean in a sports context?
"Win" means to achieve victory in a game or competition.
How does "lose" affect emotions?
"Lose" typically brings feelings of disappointment or frustration.
Can "lose" refer to misplacing items?
Yes, "lose" can refer to misplacing or being unable to find items.
Can "win" mean to gain something besides a victory?
Yes, "win" can mean to gain or obtain something, like a prize or recognition.
What are some idiomatic uses of "lose"?
"Lose your temper" and "lose heart" are common idioms.
What does "lose" mean in a sports context?
"Lose" means to be defeated in a game or competition.
Does "win" always imply success?
Yes, it implies achievement or success.
Does "lose" always imply failure?
Generally, yes, it implies failure or deficit.
How is "win" used in a broader sense?
It can refer to achieving personal or professional goals.
How does "win" affect emotions?
"Win" usually brings feelings of joy and accomplishment.
What is the difference in psychological impact between "lose" and "win"?
"Lose" generally has a negative psychological impact, while "win" has a positive one.
What are some idiomatic uses of "win"?
"Win the day" and "win over someone" are common idioms.
Can "lose" be used in a financial context?
Yes, such as losing money or an investment.
How is "lose" used in a broader sense?
It can refer to losing time, opportunities, or even loved ones.
Can "win" be used in a financial context?
Yes, like winning a monetary prize or achieving financial success.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Restore vs. Recover
Next Comparison
Foreman vs. ManagerAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
