lose usefulness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lose usefulness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that has become ineffective or no longer serves a purpose. Example: "As technology advances, older devices tend to lose usefulness and are often replaced by newer models."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Polymers used in the space environment will inevitably experience aging and degradation which result in changes of the material mechanics, physics and chemical properties, until they lose usefulness.

Progress in Aerospace Sciences

Both rules lose usefulness for CD4 counts coming near to treatment threshold.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If it becomes too controversial, it loses usefulness.

The Economist

Although it lost usefulness for average and long distances, the National Roads system has acquired municipal interest: EN13 that cuts the city in half, in a north-south direction, is used by commuters originating from the northern suburbs and from the city of Vila do Conde, in the south, to travel downtown.

Wikipedia

Material things get lost or thrown out or lose their usefulness.

TechCrunch

Distance functions might lose their usefulness in high-dimensional spaces where the distance to the nearest and farthest neighbors come very similar the curse-of-dimensionality [7].

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

They lose their usefulness if the conditions of the present differ markedly from those of the past that gave rise to the then successful strategies.

European Journal of Futures Research

The level of symptoms may determine the order of the tests, but all tests lose their usefulness if the person is already eating a gluten-free diet.

Wikipedia

"When you bring a couple together in a series, as any writer will tell you, they lose their usefulness because all the tension, the will-they-won't-they, all of that's gone," Fellowes says.

Los Angeles Times

However, cytokines rapidly become negative and thus lose their usefulness for deciding when to discontinue antibiotic administration once such treatment has been started.

Disease Markers

Otherwise you will immediately lose your usefulness, and they'll probably dispose of you.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the reason something "lose usefulness", be specific. For example, instead of saying "The tool lost usefulness", say "The tool lost usefulness because it became incompatible with the new system".

Common error

Avoid vague statements about something "losing usefulness" without providing context. Always clarify why the subject is no longer useful to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lose usefulness" typically functions as a verb phrase, indicating that something is ceasing to be effective or practical. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's used across various contexts, indicating that something's capacity to fulfill its intended purpose is diminishing or has ceased.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lose usefulness" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression that signifies a decline in effectiveness or practicality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is employed across diverse fields, from science and technology to news and general discussions. While grammatically sound, it's best practice to provide specific reasons for the loss of usefulness to enhance clarity. Common alternatives include "become obsolete" or "become irrelevant", depending on the context. By avoiding overgeneralizations and providing clear reasons, you can ensure your writing remains precise and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become obsolete

Implies a complete loss of utility due to being outdated.

become antiquated

Similar to obsolete but emphasizes age and outdatedness.

decline in effectiveness

Focuses on the reduction of positive impact or result.

become irrelevant

Indicates a lack of connection to current needs or situations.

diminish in value

Highlights the reduction of worth or importance.

lose its edge

Implies a decline in competitive advantage or sharpness.

outlive its purpose

Suggests that the original intent is no longer relevant.

fall into disuse

Suggests a gradual abandonment of utilization.

cease to function

Emphasizes the termination of operational capability.

deteriorate in quality

Focuses on the decline of inherent properties.

FAQs

How to use "lose usefulness" in a sentence?

You can use "lose usefulness" to describe something that is no longer effective or practical. For example, "As technology advances, older devices tend to "lose usefulness" and are often replaced by newer models".

What can I say instead of "lose usefulness"?

You can use alternatives like "become obsolete", "decline in effectiveness", or "become irrelevant" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "loses usefulness" or "lost usefulness"?

Both are correct depending on the tense you want to convey. "Loses usefulness" is present tense (e.g., "The software loses usefulness over time"), while "lost usefulness" is past tense (e.g., "The software lost its usefulness after the update").

What's the difference between "lose usefulness" and "lose value"?

"Lose usefulness" refers to a decline in practical application or effectiveness, while "lose value" refers to a decrease in worth or importance, which can be monetary or otherwise. Something can "lose usefulness" without "losing value", such as a collectible item.