lost contact with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost contact with" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone has been disconnected from another person or group of people. For example: "After they moved away, they lost contact with their old friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We lost contact with Spirit in 2010.

The New York Times

"We lost contact with them.

The New York Times

We lost contact with Moni, too.

The New Yorker

Eventually, the army lost contact with him.

The New York Times

"They lost contact with the mainstream".

The Guardian

She lost contact with her father.

The Guardian

She said she lost contact with friends.

The New York Times

He never lost contact with Schoenberg.

The New York Times - Arts

"We lost contact with them," he said.

The New York Times

We've lost contact with each other.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He had lost contact with all his relatives.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lost contact with", be specific about the context of the disconnection. For example, clarify whether it refers to a person, a group, or a system.

Common error

Avoid implying permanence when the loss of contact is temporary. Use qualifiers like "temporarily lost contact" to indicate the situation is not permanent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost contact with" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of disconnection or cessation of communication or connection between two entities. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing both personal relationships and technical or logistical disconnections.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lost contact with" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a disconnection, whether in personal relationships, technical systems, or other contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability across neutral registers. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, indicating its role in reporting on events involving disconnections. When using this phrase, clarity about the duration and context of the disconnection is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell out of touch with

Suggests a gradual fading of communication.

drifted apart from

Suggests a gradual separation due to changing circumstances.

ceased communication with

Emphasizes a complete stop in communication.

disconnected from

A more general term implying any kind of disconnection.

no longer in communication with

A formal way of stating the lack of contact.

stopped corresponding with

Highlights the end of a written exchange.

broke off relations with

Highlights a deliberate ending of a relationship and contact.

became estranged from

Implies a breakdown in a relationship leading to loss of contact.

became separated from

A general term that can imply physical or emotional separation.

parted ways with

Implies a separation that resulted in losing contact.

FAQs

How can I use "lost contact with" in a sentence?

You can use "lost contact with" to describe a disconnection from someone or something. For example, "After moving, I "lost contact with" my childhood friends".

What is a less direct way to say "lost contact with"?

Alternatives include "fell out of touch with" or "drifted apart from", suggesting a gradual separation.

Is it correct to say "lost the contact with"?

While understandable, it's more grammatically correct and common to say ""lost contact with"". The definite article "the" is unnecessary.

What's the difference between ""lost contact with"" and "ceased communication with"?

"Lost contact with" implies a disconnection that might not be intentional, while "ceased communication with" suggests a more deliberate ending of communication.