lonesome

1 of 2

adjective

lone·​some ˈlōn(t)-səm 

1

a

: sad or dejected as a result of lack of companionship or separation from others

don't be lonesome while we are gone

b

: causing a feeling of loneliness

the empty house seemed so lonesome

2

a

: remote, unfrequented

look down, look down that lonesome road

—Gene Austin

b

: lone

lonesomely adverb

lonesomeness noun

lonesome

2 of 2

noun

: self

sat all by his lonesome

Synonyms

Adjective

• lonely

Choose the Right Synonym for lonesome

alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others.

alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course

glorying in the calm of her solitary life

but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

left solitary by the death of his wife

lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

Examples of lonesome in a Sentence

Adjective

He was lonesome for his family.

The empty house seemed so lonesome.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

About 90 minutes earlier in the game, Thornton sprinted down the center of the field on a post route, basically all by his lonesome. —Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025

All in all, Jones should have the power to uplift this shaky defense on his lonesome. —Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Noun

About 90 minutes earlier in the game, Thornton sprinted down the center of the field on a post route, basically all by his lonesome. —Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025

All in all, Jones should have the power to uplift this shaky defense on his lonesome. —Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lonesome

• (all) by one's lonesome

Kids Definition

lonesome

adjective

lone·​some

ˈlōn(t)-səm

1

: sad from lack of companionship or separation from others

2

: not often visited or traveled over

a lonesome highway

the lonesome frontier

lonesomeness noun