Ask Difference

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.
Lose vs. Win — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Lose and Win

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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.
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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.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj 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.
Tayyaba 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.

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