may lose

USAGE SUMMARY

"may lose" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use "may lose" when talking about a situation where someone has a possibility of losing something. For example: "If you don't study for the test, you may lose your chance at getting an A."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She may lose again.

The Guardian

Soon we may lose them.

The New York Times

The room he may lose.

The New York Times

"We may lose the case.

The New York Times

We may lose seats".

The New York Times

I may lose one.

The Guardian - Sport

You may lose your endorsement.

The New York Times - Sports

They may lose or sacrifice their lives.

The New York Times

"You may lose some neurons".

The New York Times

I may lose a couple.

The Guardian - Sport

Some may lose their parliamentary immunity.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may lose" to express a possibility or uncertainty about a future loss, rather than a certainty. For instance, "If the company doesn't innovate, it "may lose" market share."

Common error

While both "may lose" and "might lose" express possibility, "might" sometimes suggests a slightly lower probability or a more hypothetical situation. Choose the word that best reflects the degree of uncertainty you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may lose" functions as a modal verb phrase, indicating a possibility or probability of something being lost in the future. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may lose" is a grammatically correct and frequently used modal verb phrase that indicates a possibility or uncertainty of a future loss. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile and applicable across various contexts, particularly in news, wiki, and scientific domains. While alternatives like "could forfeit" or "might misplace" exist, "may lose" strikes a balance between formality and clarity, making it a reliable choice for expressing potential negative outcomes. Understanding its nuances and common usage patterns can help writers effectively communicate uncertainty and possibility in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

risk losing

Emphasizes the risk or chance of losing something, rather than a simple possibility.

are in danger of losing

Highlights the danger or threat of losing something, suggesting a higher probability of loss.

face the potential loss of

Highlights the confrontation of losing something, suggesting an awareness and acceptance of the loss.

could forfeit

Replaces "may" with "could", indicating a conditional possibility, and "lose" with "forfeit", implying a loss due to a rule or action.

possibly fail to keep

Emphasizes the potential inability to retain something, highlighting a lack of control over the loss.

might misplace

Substitutes "may" with "might", which has a similar meaning. Uses "misplace" to indicate losing something temporarily or accidentally.

potentially sacrifice

Suggests a possibility of losing something as a result of a choice or decision.

stand to suffer

Focuses on the negative consequence of a potential loss, implying a negative impact.

perhaps surrender

Focuses on the possibility of losing something, specifically by giving it up, especially in a conflict.

conceivably relinquish

Implies a loss that could happen because of giving something up, usually done voluntarily or under pressure.

FAQs

How to use "may lose" in a sentence?

Use "may lose" to express a possibility of losing something in the future. For example, "The team "may lose" the game if they don't improve their defense."

What can I say instead of "may lose"?

You can use alternatives like "could forfeit", "might misplace", or "risk losing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may lose" or "might lose"?

Both "may lose" and "might lose" are correct and express possibility. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey; "might" sometimes suggests a slightly lower probability. Use them interchangeably, or consider the subtle difference to better express your intended meaning.

What's the difference between "may lose" and "will lose"?

"May lose" indicates a possibility, while "will lose" expresses a higher degree of certainty about a future loss. Use "may lose" when the outcome is uncertain, and "will lose" when the loss is highly probable.