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
Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The restaurant’s name refers to the lost Incan city of Paititi, which according to legend may reside somewhere in the Peruvian rainforest.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
The Giants have surged back into contention while avoiding the temptation to ruminate over lost opportunities.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Manoah's future is in limbo as well, as the 27-year-old faces a lost season and an uphill climb to crack the big-league rotation in 2026.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 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
Recessions inevitably happened and growth slowed, but the declines were temporary, and the economy always recovered the lost ground.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The restaurant’s name refers to the lost Incan city of Paititi, which according to legend may reside somewhere in the Peruvian rainforest.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
The Giants have surged back into contention while avoiding the temptation to ruminate over lost opportunities.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Manoah's future is in limbo as well, as the 27-year-old faces a lost season and an uphill climb to crack the big-league rotation in 2026.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 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