lost to

USAGE SUMMARY

"lost to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone or something has been defeated or overcome by another person or thing, or cannot be found. Example sentence: The reigning champion was shockingly lost to a lesser-known competitor in the finals.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Writing

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(It lost to Backpacker.com).

The New York Times - Arts

"I lost to Lembit!

Independent

Australia lost to Brooklyn.

The New York Times

(It lost to "Homeland").

The New York Times - Arts

Purdue lost to Rice.

The New York Times

We're lost to ourselves.

The New Yorker

(It lost to "The Voice").

The New York Times

Others were lost to predators.

The New York Times

"But he lost to Michael.

The New Yorker

The team they lost to?

Independent

"We lost to the Raptors?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about sports or competitions, use "lost to" to clearly indicate which team or individual was defeated.

Common error

Ensure you are using the correct preposition. "Lost to" is the standard phrasing; avoid using alternatives like "lost against" or "lost from."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost to" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the agent of defeat. It specifies who or what caused the subject to lose, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

35%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lost to" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate defeat, as confirmed by Ludwig. Predominantly used in News & Media and Sports contexts, it clearly identifies the entity responsible for the loss. While alternatives like "defeated by" and "beaten by" exist, "lost to" remains a standard choice. Ensure its proper usage by avoiding incorrect prepositions and focusing on competitive scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defeated by

Focuses on the act of being overcome in a competition or conflict.

beaten by

Implies a clear loss in a contest or game.

was defeated by

A passive construction emphasizing the state of being defeated.

overcome by

Suggests being overwhelmed or subdued by a force or opponent.

succumbed to

Emphasizes yielding or giving in to pressure or defeat.

vanquished by

Indicates a thorough and decisive defeat.

yielded to

Highlights the act of surrendering or giving way.

bowed to

Suggests acknowledging defeat or superiority of the opponent.

bested by

Implies being outdone or surpassed in skill or ability.

trounced by

Suggests a heavy and humiliating defeat.

FAQs

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

Use "lost to" to indicate defeat in a competition or contest, such as "The team "lost to" their rivals in the final game".

What are some alternatives to saying "lost to"?

You can use alternatives such as "defeated by", "beaten by", or "overcome by" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "lost against" instead of "lost to"?

No, ""lost to"" is the correct and standard phrasing. "Lost against" is generally considered grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "lost to" and "defeated by"?

While both phrases indicate a loss, ""lost to"" is more commonly used in sports contexts, whereas "defeated by" can be used in broader situations involving conflict or competition.