lose to

lose to — phrasal verb

  • lose tobase form
  • loses to3rd person singular
  • losing to-ing form
  • lost topast simple

1. to be defeated by a rival player, team, or group who perform better in a sports

1.片語動詞B1
釋義

to be defeated by a rival player, team, or group who perform better in a sports match, race, vote, or any contest where one side wins and the other loses.

例句

The underdog team lost 3–2 to the defending champions in a thrilling match.

lose + [score] + to + [opponent]

Brian lost to his sister at chess after she had played for only six months.

lost + [event] + to + [person]

同義詞
  • be beaten by

    more informal and passive in structure

  • fall to

    more formal or literary, often used in sports journalism

  • go down to

    informal, especially British English, used for teams

文法句型

lose + to + [person/team]

用法筆記

Frequently used with a score or margin before 'to': 'lose 3–1 to', 'lost by a narrow margin to'. The opponent always comes after 'to'.

常見錯誤

❌Japan lost against Korea in the final.
✅Japan lost to Korea in the final.
💡For competitions, use 'lose to', not 'lose against'.

2. to have something or someone taken away from you by a more powerful person, orga

2.片語動詞B2
釋義

to have something or someone taken away from you by a more powerful person, organization, or force — often used when a competitor, illness, or circumstance takes what you previously had.

例句

The family-run bookstore lost many regular customers to the online retailer's lower prices.

lose + [customers] + to + [competitor]

Nkechi lost her grandmother to cancer when she was only nine years old.

lose + [person] + to + [illness]

同義詞
  • cede to

    more formal, implies deliberate surrender

  • surrender to

    suggests giving up after a fight or resistance

文法句型

lose + [something/someone] + to + [person/thing]

用法筆記

The object that is lost comes before 'to'. Common objects: customers, staff, territory, a loved one, control. When the object is a person, this sense often expresses grief or regret.

常見錯誤

❌The company lost to their main rival their biggest client.
✅The company lost their biggest client to their main rival.
💡The thing that is lost must come before 'to'.