will be lost

USAGE SUMMARY

'will be lost' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when speaking about something that is likely to be forgotten or impossible to find in the future. For example, "Many of the stories from this era of history will be lost forever."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Friends will be lost.

The New York Times

"Jobs will be lost.

The New York Times

That will be lost".

Independent

Otherwise, trust will be lost.

The New York Times

Homes will be lost.

The New York Times

All will be lost.

The New Yorker

If they do, something will be lost.

The New York Times

How many jobs will be lost?

The New York Times

No Americans lives will be lost.

The New York Times

I will be lost without him.

The New York Times

"There are many that will be lost.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will be lost" to describe potential negative consequences or outcomes in future scenarios. It effectively conveys the risk of something valuable disappearing or being irretrievable.

Common error

Avoid using "will be lost" when a simpler, more direct phrase like "will disappear" or "will vanish" would suffice. Overusing the passive voice can make your writing sound less engaging and more convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "will be lost" is to form a passive voice construction in the future tense. Ludwig AI shows that it describes a future state where something disappears or ceases to exist, indicating a potential negative consequence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will be lost" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to describe future states of disappearance or irretrievability. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability across various contexts. While it's valuable for expressing potential negative consequences, avoid overuse and consider simpler alternatives when appropriate. Understanding its nuances and common usage patterns will enhance your writing and ensure clarity in conveying the risk of future loss.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will disappear

Focuses on the act of vanishing or ceasing to be visible, similar to being lost but emphasizing the physical absence.

will vanish

Implies a sudden and complete disappearance, suggesting something is quickly forgotten or ceases to exist.

will be forgotten

Emphasizes the idea of something fading from memory or no longer being remembered.

will be irretrievable

Highlights the impossibility of recovering or regaining something that is lost.

will cease to exist

A more formal way of saying something will no longer be present or functional.

will be gone

A simple and direct way to express that something will no longer be available or present.

will be forfeited

Indicates that something will be lost as a consequence of breaking a rule or failing to meet a condition.

will be squandered

Emphasizes the wasteful loss of something valuable.

will be dissipated

Suggests that something will scatter or fade away gradually.

will fade away

Implies a gradual disappearance or decline over time.

FAQs

How can I use "will be lost" in a sentence?

The phrase "will be lost" is used to indicate that something is likely to disappear or become irretrievable in the future. For example, "If we don't preserve these documents, our history "will be lost" forever."

What are some alternatives to "will be lost"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "will disappear", "will vanish", or "will be forgotten" to express a similar meaning.

Is it better to use "will be lost" or "will get lost"?

While both phrases imply something is disappearing, "will be lost" often carries a sense of permanence or irretrievability. "Will get lost" suggests a more temporary or accidental disappearance. Choose the phrase that best fits the intended nuance.

What does "will be lost to follow-up" mean?

In medical or research contexts, "will be lost to follow-up" means that patients or subjects in a study are likely to become unreachable or unavailable for further monitoring or data collection.