lose the capability

USAGE SUMMARY

"lose the capability" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to no longer have the ability or skill to do something. Example: After her car accident, she lost the capability to walk for several months.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

If you lose the capability, you lose it forever.

The Economist

If the Space Sciences Lab can't fund them, those people will look for other jobs, and then we lose the capability of furthering our expertise in space exploration.

University of California, Berkeley

But we do not want to lose the capability in the United States for the most advanced manufacturing of very complex systems, because that is directly related to the innovation process.

MIT Technology Review

"Early advance care planning is important because a person's ability to make decisions may diminish over time, and he or she may suddenly lose the capability to participate in health care decisions," the lawmakers said in a letter to Dr. Berwick in August.

The New York Times

Too often, people plan to work forever but lose the capability to do so.

Forbes

Thus, such algorithms could not produce diverse variations and then lose the capability of refining fitness of solutions.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The Tigers, said the general, had lost the capability of fighting as a conventional army.

The Economist

Political irrelevance would mean the left loses the capability to effectively defend minority rights and fight discrimination.

The Guardian - Opinion

"A problem facing the U.S. more than France is we are losing the capability to design and construct these large nuclear material facilities," he said.

The New York Times

"Since 2010, as the Hungarian political Left lost its ability to invent and communicate strategic visions or ideas about the country but even about themselves, they also lost the capability to 'nurture' their 'intellectual Hinterland,' while the Right was able to build up a viable counterpart to the 'progressive' Hungarian media outlets," Mr. Szantho wrote.

The New York Times

Since we had offshored so much manufacturing, we had lost the capability to make many of these things.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lose the capability" to clearly indicate a reduction or absence of a specific ability or capacity. Ensure the context makes it clear what capability is being lost and why.

Common error

Avoid using "lose the capability" when a more specific term like "lose the skill" or "lose the ability" is more appropriate. "Capability" often implies a broader, more systemic capacity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lose the capability" functions primarily as a verbal phrase, indicating the cessation or reduction of a particular capacity or ability. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, serving to denote the loss of skill or function. Examples show its use across diverse contexts, highlighting its versatility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lose the capability" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that signifies the reduction or complete absence of a specific skill, ability, or capacity. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is appropriate for use in written English. It appears across various contexts, including news, science, and academia, as shown by Ludwig. While not exceedingly common, its clarity and precision make it a valuable tool for conveying information about lost abilities or resources. Closely related phrases include "lose the ability" and "lose the capacity", which can often be used interchangeably depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lose the capacity

This alternative is nearly synonymous, replacing 'capability' with 'capacity', which also denotes ability or potential.

lose the ability

This phrase substitutes 'capability' with 'ability', indicating a lack of power or skill to do something.

lose the skill

This alternative focuses specifically on the loss of a learned proficiency.

lose the expertise

This suggests a loss of specialized knowledge or skill in a particular area.

lose the wherewithal

This implies losing the necessary resources or means to accomplish something.

lose the function

This focuses on losing the operational ability of something.

lose the potential

This suggests a loss of inherent possibility or future capacity.

waste the capability

Instead of a loss, here the concept focus on non use of capability

relinquish the capability

This suggests a voluntary surrender of a capability.

forfeit the capability

This implies a loss of capability as a consequence of an action or situation.

FAQs

What does "lose the capability" mean?

The phrase "lose the capability" means to no longer possess the ability, capacity, or means to do something. It indicates a decline or absence of a specific skill or function.

What can I say instead of "lose the capability"?

You can use alternatives like "lose the ability", "lose the capacity", or "lose the skill" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "lose the capability" in a sentence?

Use "lose the capability" when you want to express that someone or something no longer has the means or capacity to perform a certain action or function. It's suitable for describing losses in skills, resources, or systemic functions.

Is there a difference between "lose the capability" and "lacking the capability"?

Yes, "lose the capability" implies a prior possession of the ability that has been diminished or eliminated. "Lacking the capability" simply indicates the absence of that ability, without implying it was ever present.