Loss vs. Lost
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Loss and Lost is that Loss is a noun, whereas Lost is a verb.

Difference Between Loss and Lost
Loss vs. Lost
The word loss is a noun, whereas the word lost is a verb.
Loss vs. Lost
The meaning of loss is “an act of losing something” on the flip side; the meaning of lost is “someone loses something or loses at something.”
Loss vs. Lost
The noun loss refers to the procedure of losing someone or something; conversely, the verb lost is the past tense of lose. It means to be deprived of something or a state of ceasing to have something.
Loss vs. Lost
The noun loss is associated with the present; on the other hand, the verb lost is associated with the past.
Loss vs. Lost
Loss is used as present, past, and future form, while lost is the past and past participle of ‘lose.’
Loss vs. Lost
The word loss rhymes with “moss, boss,” etc.; contrarily, the word lost rhymes with cost, tost, etc.
Loss vs. Lost
The loss ends in double ‘-ss’; on the converse, the word lost ends in ‘-st.’
Loss vs. Lost
Loss only functions as a noun; inversely, lost functions as a verb as well as an adjective.
Loss vs. Lost
The common phrase with loss is “at a loss” on the other side, the common phrases with lost are “get lost, lost on.”
Lossnoun
an instance of losing, such as a defeat
The match ended in their first loss of the season.Lostverb
simple past tense and past participle of lose
Lossnoun
The result of an alteration in a function or characteristic of the body, or of its previous integrity.
Loss of an arm ; loss of weight ; loss of cognitive functions ; loss of appetite.In other areas, glacier loss creates serious risk of a dry period across the Third Pole, Wang said. File:In other areas, glacier loss creates serious risk of a dry period across the Third Pole, Wang said.oggLostadjective
Having wandered from, or unable to find, the way.
The children were soon lost in the forest.Lossnoun
the hurtful condition of having lost something or someone, particularly in death.
We mourn his loss.Lostadjective
In an unknown location; unable to be found.
Deep beneath the ocean, the Titanic was lost to the world.Lossnoun
(in the plural) casualties, especially physically eliminated victims of violent conflict
The battle was won, but losses were great.Lostadjective
Not perceptible to the senses; no longer visible.
an island lost in a fog; a person lost in a crowdLossnoun
(financial) the sum an entity loses on balance
The sum of expenditures and taxes minus total income is a loss, when this difference is positive.Lostadjective
Parted with; no longer held or possessed.
a lost limb; lost honourLossnoun
destruction, ruin
It was a terrible crash: both cars were total lossesLostadjective
Not employed or enjoyed; thrown away; employed ineffectually; wasted; squandered.
a lost day; a lost opportunity or benefitLossnoun
(engineering) electricity of kinetic power expended without doing useful work
The inefficiency of many old-fashioned power plants exceeds 60% loss before the subsequent losses during transport over the gridLostadjective
Ruined or destroyed, either physically or morally; past help or hope.
a ship lost at sea; a woman lost to virtue; a lost soulLossverb
(colloquial) lang=en
Lostadjective
Hardened beyond sensibility or recovery; alienated; insensible.
lost to shame; lost to all sense of honourLossnoun
the act of losing;
everyone expected him to win so his loss was a shockLostadjective
Occupied with, or under the influence of, something, so as not to notice external things.
to be lost in thoughtLossnoun
something that is lost;
the car was a total lossloss of livestock left the rancher bankruptLostnoun
people who are destined to die soon;
the agony of the doomed was in his voiceLossnoun
the amount by which the cost of a business exceeds its revenue;
the company operated at a loss last yearthe company operated in the red last yearLostadjective
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered;
a lost childlost friendshis lost booklost opportunitiesLossnoun
gradual decline in amount or activity;
weight lossa serious loss of businessLostadjective
having lost your bearings; confused as to time or place or personal identity;
I frequently find myself disoriented when I come up out of the subwaythe anesthetic left her completely disorientedLossnoun
the disadvantage that results from losing something;
his loss of credibility led to his resignationlosing him is no great deprivationLostadjective
spiritually or physically doomed or destroyed;
lost soulsa lost generationa lost shipthe lost platoonLossnoun
military personnel lost by death or capture
Lostadjective
not gained or won;
a lost battlea lost prizeLossnoun
the experience of losing a loved one;
he sympathized on the loss of their grandfatherLostadjective
incapable of being recovered or regained;
his lost honorLossnoun
euphemistic expressions for death;
thousands mourned his passingLostadjective
not caught with the senses or the mind;
words lost in the dinLostadjective
deeply absorbed in thought;
as distant and bemused as a professor listening to the prattling of his freshman classlost in thoughta preoccupied frownLostadjective
no longer known; irretrievable;
a forgotten arta lost artlost civilizationsLostadjective
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment;
obviously bemused by his questionsbewildered and confuseda cloudy and confounded philosopherjust a mixed-up kidshe felt lost on the first day of schoolLostadjective
unable to function; without help
Comparison Chart
Loss | Lost |
Process of losing something or someone is loss | A state of ceasing to have something/ To be deprived of something is lost |
Parts of Speech | |
Noun | Verb, adjective |
Form | |
Present | Past, past participle |
Rhyming Words | |
Moss, boss | Cost, tost |
Origin | |
From Germanic term 'los.' | From Germanic term 'los.' |
Alphabets | |
Four | Four |
Context | |
Present, past, future | Past |
Loss vs. Lost
The meaning of loss is “an act of losing something.” On the other hand, the meaning of lost is “someone loses something or loses at something.”
The noun loss refers to the losing process of someone or something; on the flip side, the verb lost is the past and past participle of lose. It means to be deprived of something or a state of ceasing to have something.
The noun loss is associated with the three forms present, past, and future, while the verb lost is always associated with the past.
The word loss rhymes with “moss, boss,” etc.; on the other hand, the word lost rhymes with cost, tost, etc. The word loss ends in double ‘-ss’ whereas the word lost ends in ‘-st.’
Word loss, only functions as a noun; on the contrary, lost function as a verb as well as an adjective. The meaning of lost as an adjective is “unable to find the required way.”
The common phrase with loss is “at a loss.” It means confusion, puzzlement, and the like. On the flip side, the common phrases with lost are “get lost, lost on.” ‘Get lost’ means to go away. This phrase expresses anger and impatience. ‘Lost on’ is used in the context when someone fails to be noted or appreciated.
What is Loss?
The loss falls into the category of a noun in the parts of speech. The meaning of loss is “an act of losing something.” It is the antonym of win. It is used in the context of sports and athletic competitions. The origin of the word ‘loss’ dates back to a Germanic term ‘los.’ It means destruction. Loss relates to the following meanings. It is a fact or process of losing someone or something. The word loss also describes the death of someone. The loss also means “an amount of money or any other tangible thing lost.” It also means “any situation of losing.”
The function of the word loss is only as a noun. It is associated with the three form present, past, and future. The word loss rhymes with “moss, boss,” etc. The noun loss does not have many forms. It only changes in case when it forms it’s plural ‘losses.’ the word loss ends in double ‘-ss.’ Briefly, the noun loss refers to the process of losing something or someone. The common phrase with loss is “at a loss.” It means confusion, puzzlement, and the like. The word loss is always used in the context of any unfortunate event.
Examples
- The departure of the headmaster from the school is a ceasing loss for the students and teachers.
- The result of higher taxes will be the loss of jobs.
- We must learn from our loss and do not lose hope.
- He was at a loss when he heard about the ailment of her father.
- The mother is much worried about the loss of appetite of her four-year-old kid.
What is Lost?
The word lost falls into the category of the verb and adjective in parts of speech. The meaning of lost is “someone loses something or loses at something.” The antonym of lost is to win. This word is commonly seen in the context of sports and other competitions referring to unfortunate conditions.
The origin of the word ‘lost’ dates back to the Germanic term ‘los.’ It means destruction. The verb lost is the past tense and past participle of the verb ‘lose.’ It means to be deprived of something or a state of ceasing to have something. The verb lost is always associated with the past. It is the past participle of the verb ‘lose.’
The word lost rhymes with cost, tost, etc. It contains four letters. It ends in ‘-st.’ As an adjective, the meaning of lost is “unable to find the required way.” There are phrases with the word lost. These phrases are “lost on, get lost” Get lost means to go away. This phrase expresses anger and impatience. Lost is used in the context when someone fails to be noted or appreciated.
Also, the word lost is an irregular verb. It means that it does not follow the conjugation rules of standard English. It is not conjugated by the simple pattern of the addition of –ed. Rather it follows a different conjugation path. That is ‘lose’ for the present, ‘lost’ for the past, and ‘will lose’ for the future. Lost can also relate to incompetence to cope, excluding something or something. Lost also implies having gone or died or been ruined.
Examples
- “ The U.S. economy had lost two million jobs that year; without government response.” The New Yorker
- My friend told me about a very good gym where she lost 26 pounds after seven months of steady dieting and exercise.
- Finally, I found my lost car keys.
- The lost days of our childhood are never coming back.
- I lost the game with my brother last night.
ConclusionLoss and lost are two different yet similar worlds as their meaning have the same context. But both the words are different in their part of speech ad usage. These words cannot be interchanged.