1
: not made use of, won, or claimed
a lost opportunity
2
a
: no longer possessed
a lost reputation
b
: no longer known
a lost tunnel
3
: ruined or destroyed physically or morally : desperate
a lost soul
4
a
: taken away or beyond reach or attainment : denied
regions lost to the faith
b
: insensible, hardened
lost to shame
5
a
: unable to find the way
b
: no longer visible
lost in the crowd
c
: lacking assurance or self-confidence : helpless
lost without his glasses
7
: not appreciated or understood : wasted
Their jokes were lost on me.
8
: obscured or overlooked during a process or activity
lost in translation
9
: hopelessly unattainable : futile
a lost cause
Examples of lost in a Sentence
Adjective
He was looking for his lost keys.
Many have tried to find the ruins of the lost city.
We took a wrong turn and got lost.
Hold my hand. I don't want you to get lost.
He has been trying to recapture his lost youth.
The original music is lost to us forever.
Recent Examples on the Web
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
On Sunday, Rattler ran into a red-hot Bears defense that forced him into three picks plus a lost fumble.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Flexibility where feasible, paid time off for symptom flare days, and practical measures like temperature control and quiet rest areas reduce the friction that turns symptoms into lost days.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
More and more of the lost events are also because of the Boise Centre’s size and limitations, according to the report.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
While most medications treat only the symptoms, researchers from the Department of Bioscience and Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan set out to determine whether a new approach could replace the lost cells.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
On Sunday, Rattler ran into a red-hot Bears defense that forced him into three picks plus a lost fumble.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Flexibility where feasible, paid time off for symptom flare days, and practical measures like temperature control and quiet rest areas reduce the friction that turns symptoms into lost days.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
More and more of the lost events are also because of the Boise Centre’s size and limitations, according to the report.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lost
Cite this Entry
“Lost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lost. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lost
adjective1
: not used, won, or claimed
lost opportunities
2
: no longer possessed or known
a long lost uncle
3
: ruined or destroyed physically or morally
4
: unable to find the way
a lost puppy
5
: having the mind absorbed and not aware of surroundings
lost in daydreams
6
: futile
a lost cause
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share