Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

lose out

/luːz aʊt/
phrasal verb★Intermediate— miss an opportunity◆phrasal verb
informal

to fail to gain something because of not acting quickly or decisively enough

She lost out on the promotion because she didn't speak up during the meeting.

She missed the promotion because she didn't advocate for herself.

If you don't book your tickets early, you might lose out on the best seats.

Delaying could mean missing the best available seats.

💡

Often used in contexts where timing or action is crucial.

Collocations

lose out onmiss an opportunity or benefit

Synonyms

miss outforfeitfail to gain

Antonyms

gainwinbenefit

Related Phrases

miss outphrase
to fail to participate or benefit
lose the chancephrase
to forfeit an opportunity

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use 'lose out' when emphasizing the negative outcome of inaction or delay.

⚡Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While useful, overusing 'lose out' can make your speech sound repetitive. Vary your expressions.

📖Word Origin

From the combination of 'lose' (to fail to keep or win) and 'out' (indicating a disadvantage).

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used in informal contexts to express regret or disappointment over missed opportunities.

Word Breakdown

lose
to fail to keep or win
root
+
out
indicating a disadvantage or exclusion
particle
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.