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
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Some scholars have also linked the event to later stories about Atlantis, the lost island civilization described by Plato.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
Bart Jansen Two critics of the event – Paul Romano, a Vietnam War veteran, and Susan Douglas, a longtime activist – filed a federal lawsuit to block UFC Freedom 250 but lost.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 June 2026
If the Heat truly value and respect Bam Adebayo as their franchise player, then every season without a quality cast alongside means a lost season – for both the Heat and for Bam.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Herbie Hancock conjured what sounded like a lost Debussy Prélude.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Some scholars have also linked the event to later stories about Atlantis, the lost island civilization described by Plato.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
Bart Jansen Two critics of the event – Paul Romano, a Vietnam War veteran, and Susan Douglas, a longtime activist – filed a federal lawsuit to block UFC Freedom 250 but lost.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 June 2026
If the Heat truly value and respect Bam Adebayo as their franchise player, then every season without a quality cast alongside means a lost season – for both the Heat and for Bam.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2026
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 Jun. 2026.
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
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