The verb to lose · Conjugation
Past Simple of lose
The answer: lost
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to lose is lost.
Example: I lost my phone yesterday.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | lost |
| You | lost |
| He / She / It | lost |
| We | lost |
| You (pl.) | lost |
| They | lost |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I loosed my phone ❌
Lose (verb) = to stop having something. Loose (adjective) = not tight. So say I lost my phone. This mix-up is a very common spelling mistake.
2. Losed ❌
Lose is irregular. Its Past Simple is lost, never losed.
3. Lost as an adjective
Lost is also an adjective. I'm lost means I don't know where I am. A lost cause is something with no hope of success.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of lose?+
The Past Simple of lose is lost. The past participle is lost too. Lose → lost → lost.
Is it lose or loose?+
Lose is the verb: to stop having something (it rhymes with choose). Loose is the adjective: not tight, too big (it rhymes with goose). People often mix them up when they write, but the meanings are completely different.
Is it lost or losed?+
Lose is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is lost, never losed.
Is it I lost my keys or I have lost my keys?+
Say I lost my keys (Past Simple) for a finished moment: I lost my keys yesterday. Say I have lost my keys (Present Perfect) when they are still lost now.
Is it didn't lose or didn't lost?+
Say didn't lose: I didn't lose the match. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (lose, not lost).
Related pages: lose Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/lose/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to lose are coming soon.