Loss and lost are related words, but there’s a difference. Both loss and lost have to do with losing, but they are different parts of speech. Loss is a noun referring to the act of losing. Meanwhile, lost is the past tense and past participle of “lose.” While they are different parts of speech, both words have related meanings.
When to Use Loss
We use loss as a noun to refer to the act of losing. Loss has many meanings:
Loss as a Noun
The act of no longer having something or having less of it
Weight loss isn’t an overnight success.
He experienced a temporary loss of memory.
A situation where a business spends more than it earns
Their profit and loss statement shows that they need to reduce their expenses.
The company made a loss of $100,000 last year.
The death of someone
The couple’s honeymoon led to the loss of his wife.
She must be feeling depressed after the loss of her mother.
A feeling of loneliness or sadness after losing someone
I felt a deep sense of loss after breaking up with him.
There’s a feeling of loss since she’s been gone.
A disadvantage due to someone or something leaving
Jin’s resignation is a significant loss to the company.
The manager’s decision to fire her is a tremendous loss.
When to Use Lost
We use lost as a verb and an adjective. As a verb, it’s the past tense and past participle of the verb “lose.” Also, like loss, lost has many meanings. When used as an adjective, it means unable to find one’s way or something’s missing or taken away.
Lost as a Past Tense of “Lose”
To stop feeling something
I lost interest in wearing bright colors.
Tegan lost interest in pursuing a career in the music industry.
To fail to win
They lost during the volleyball game. Despite it, they received compliments.
It wasn’t a lie; I lost a bet with friends.
To not be able to find someone or something
I lost sight of my dog at a park.
Yllian said he lost his phone on a bus.
To have something or someone taken away from you
After she lost her job, she felt stuck.
I lost my younger cousin in the crowd.
To have less of something than you had before
It’s noticeable that he lost weight.
She lost her appetite.
To die
She lost her baby unexpectedly.
My friend lost his father.
Lost as a Past Participle of “Lose”
She has lost his sanity these days.
I have lost a lot of money.
Lost as an Adjective
Unable to find one’s way or something is missing
The staff is still looking for the lost luggage of a customer.
A lost child in the mall was looking for her mother.
Loss vs. Lost: What’s the Difference?
The difference between loss and lost is they are different parts of speech. Loss is a noun referring to an act of losing, while lost is the past tense and past participle of “lose.” Hence, get don’t get lost in this topic, okay? It will be a loss!
References:
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.) Loss. In https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/loss
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.) Lost. In https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/ dictionary. Retrieved fromhttps://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/lost
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online. (n.d.). Loss. In https://www.ldoceonline.com/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/loss
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online. (n.d.). Lost. In https://www.ldoceonline.com/ dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/lost
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Loss. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loss
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Lost. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/lost
