lost ground

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost ground" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a situation where progress or advantage has been lost or given up. It can be used in various contexts, such as describing a decline in a business or a setback in a relationship. Example: The company's new advertising campaign failed to bring in new customers, causing them to lose ground to their competitors. Another example: Despite their strong start, the team lost ground in the third quarter and ended up losing the game.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Stockmarkets lost ground everywhere.

The Economist

Most other players lost ground outright.

The New York Times

Faith has lost ground to skepticism.

The New York Times

He lost ground in five others.

The New York Times

Both types lost ground in 2008.

The New York Times

First, their economy has lost ground.

The Economist

"We lost ground because of that".

The New York Times - Sports

He has lost ground in urban Venezuela.

The Economist

lost ground in the polls and b).

The New York Times

Pepsi-Cola's brands lost ground.

The New York Times

But energy companies lost ground.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lost ground", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific advantage, position, or progress has been diminished. Be precise in identifying the area of decline.

Common error

Avoid using "lost ground" without specifying the area of loss. For instance, instead of saying "The project lost ground", clarify with "The project lost ground in terms of its budget and timeline".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost ground" typically functions as a verb phrase indicating a decline in progress, status, or advantage. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. The examples show its application in various scenarios, such as market share or political standing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lost ground" is a versatile verb phrase widely used to indicate a decline in progress, status, or advantage. As Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence, it's important to remember the phrase is commonly found in news reports, business analyses, and academic discussions, making it suitable for neutral and formal contexts. When employing "lost ground", ensure clarity by specifying the area where progress has diminished, and consider alternatives like ""fallen behind"" or ""suffered a setback"" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fallen behind

Implies lagging or failing to keep pace.

suffered a setback

Highlights the experience of encountering an obstacle or reversal.

taken a hit

Focuses on receiving damage or negative impact.

diminished

Emphasizes a reduction in size, extent, or importance.

receded

Focuses on the action of moving back or away, implying a loss of position or advantage.

deteriorated

Highlights the process of becoming worse or declining in quality.

regressed

Stresses a return to a former or less developed state.

yielded

Highlights the act of giving way or conceding.

relinquished position

Describes surrendering a specific place or standing.

surrendered advantage

Refers to giving up a beneficial position.

FAQs

How can I use "lost ground" in a sentence?

You can use "lost ground" to describe a decline in progress, advantage, or position. For example, "The company "lost ground" in the market due to increased competition".

What are some alternatives to saying "lost ground"?

Alternatives include "fallen behind", "suffered a setback", or "diminished", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "lose ground" or "lost ground"?

"Lost ground" is the past tense form, used to describe something that has already happened. "Lose ground" is the present tense or infinitive form, indicating a potential or ongoing situation.

What's the difference between "lost ground" and "regained ground"?

"Lost ground" signifies a decline or setback, while "regained ground" indicates recovering from a previous loss or making up for lost progress.