# losing

/ˈɫuzɪŋ/ (US) · /lˈuːzɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/losing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. failing to win

verb · CEFR A2

to be defeated in a game, race, or competition.

For teachers: the present participle of 'lose', indicating a state of being defeated in a contest or failing to maintain a lead.

- The team is losing the game because they aren't playing well together.
- Despite their early dominance, the home side found themselves losing the match after a series of defensive errors in the final quarter.

Usage: Often used in the continuous aspect to describe an ongoing competition.

### 2. misplacing or reducing

verb · CEFR A2

the act of misplacing something or having less of something than before.

For teachers: the process of being deprived of something or experiencing a reduction in quantity or quality.

- He is losing weight by eating healthy food and exercising every day.
- The company is losing market share to smaller, more agile competitors who are better at adapting to digital trends.

Usage: Commonly used with abstract nouns like 'patience', 'weight', or 'interest'.

### 3. unsuccessful

adjective · CEFR B1

describing someone or something that does not win.

For teachers: characterised by failure or defeat; typically modifying a noun to indicate an unsuccessful outcome.

- He was on the losing side of the argument and had to apologise.
- The candidate's losing campaign was later analysed by political scientists to understand why his message failed to resonate with voters.

Usage: Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'the losing side'.

### 4. the act of loss

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the process of something being lost or taken away.

For teachers: the gerundial form used to denote the action or process of experiencing a loss.

- The losing of his keys caused him a lot of stress that morning.
- The systematic losing of traditional knowledge is a major concern for anthropologists working with indigenous communities.

Usage: Less common than the noun 'loss'; usually found in formal or literary contexts.

## Examples

- Our team is losing the game by two points.
- The company is losing market share because it failed to adapt to new digital trends.
- While the candidate is losing ground in the rural districts, her performance in urban centers remains strong enough to keep the election competitive.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.