lost by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost by" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate the person or thing that was the loser in a situation. For example, "The election was lost by a mere ten votes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Cisneros lost by knockout).

The New York Times - Sports

Princeton lost by one point.

The New Yorker

She lost by 90 votes.

The New York Times

He lost by twelve points.

The New Yorker

Marquez lost by unanimous decision.

The New York Times - Sports

He lost by eight votes.

The New York Times

We lost by 1 point.

The New York Times

He lost, by one day.

The New York Times - Sports

The incumbent lost by a whisker.

The Economist

He lost by approximately 4,000 votes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"We lost by 100," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lost by" when you want to clearly state the margin of defeat in a competition or election. For example, "The team lost by three points" provides specific context.

Common error

Avoid using "lose by" when referring to a past event. "Lose" is present tense; the correct form is "lost by" to indicate a completed action, as in "The candidate lost by a narrow margin".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost by" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the margin of defeat. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically correct and usable phrase. Examples include "The government lost by a heavy majority" and "She lost by 90 votes."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sports

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lost by" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to describe the margin of defeat. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. It's frequently used in news, sports, and formal business contexts, as shown by the numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. To ensure accuracy, use "lost by" to refer to past events. Remember that similar phrases such as "defeated by" and "edged out by" can be used as alternatives, depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defeated by

Indicates a direct defeat, similar to "lost by" but emphasizes the opponent's action.

beaten by

Synonymous with "defeated by", conveying a similar sense of losing to an opponent.

edged out by

Suggests a narrow defeat by a small margin.

overcome by

Suggests the opponent had to overcome some struggle and work harder.

succumbed to

Implies a yielding or giving in to the opponent, often suggesting pressure or difficulty.

fell to

Similar to "succumbed to", indicating a yielding to defeat.

trailed by

Emphasizes the lagging position, specifying the trailing margin.

outstripped by

Suggests being surpassed or outpaced by the opponent.

missed victory by

Highlights how close victory was and focuses on the lost opportunity.

came up short against

Indicates a failure to achieve victory against a specific opponent.

FAQs

How to use "lost by" in a sentence?

Use "lost by" to indicate the margin of defeat. For example, "The game was "lost by" only one point", or "She "lost by" a wide margin".

What can I say instead of "lost by"?

You can use alternatives like "defeated by", "beaten by", or "edged out by" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "lose by" instead of "lost by"?

"Lose by" is the infinitive form, while "lost by" is the past tense. Use "lost by" when describing a past event. For example, "They "lost by" a small amount" is correct.

What is the difference between "lost by" and "defeated by"?

While both phrases indicate a loss, "defeated by" emphasizes the action of the victor, whereas "lost by" focuses on the margin of the defeat. "The team was "defeated by" their rivals" highlights the rivals' victory, while "The team "lost by" a single point" emphasizes the narrow margin of loss.