Definition of lost
1 : not made use of, won, or claimed a lost opportunity
2a : no longer possessed a lost reputationb : no longer known a lost tunnel
3 : ruined or destroyed physically or morally : desperate a lost soul
4a : taken away or beyond reach or attainment : denied regions lost to the faithb : insensible, hardened lost to shame
5a : unable to find the wayb : no longer visible lost in the crowdc : 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
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Examples of lost in a Sentence
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 of lost from the Web
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For young Indians in Kolkata or Bangalore, Pakistan is no longer viewed as a lost cousin but simply as a particularly bothersome distant neighbour.
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However, the production’s tech crew started to scour the premises for several misplaced items, among them a lost dog and a missing salmon.
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Glankler wrote in a Facebook post in the Lost Pets Boise page.
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People who find a lost dog should try and lure the canine to a safe area and then call Animal Services at (619) 767-2675.
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The gun industry isn’t ready to call its agenda a lost cause just yet.
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And then there was Marsha P. Johnson, an icon of Stonewall and the lost gay world of the West Village in the 1980s and early 1990s.
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Perhaps Celine and Shania will sing at each other about trying to move on after a lost love (in Shania’s case, an extremely dramatic divorce, and in Celine’s, an unfortunate death).
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Has Facebook or Skype connected you with long lost friends and family?
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lost.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of lost
past participle of lose
LOST Defined for English Language Learners
lost
playDefinition of lost for English Language Learners
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: unable to be found
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: not knowing where you are or how to get to where you want to go : unable to find your way
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: no longer held, owned, or possessed
LOST Defined for Kids
lost
playDefinition of lost for Students
1 : unable to find the way a lost puppy
2 : unable to be found lost luggage
3 : not used, won, or claimed a lost opportunity
4 : no longer possessed or known a lost art long lost cousins
5 : fully occupied lost in thought
6 : not capable of succeeding a lost cause
Law Dictionary
lost
Legal Definition of lost
1 : not made use of, won, or claimed lost opportunity costs
2 : unintentionally gone out of or missing from one's possession or control
3 : ruined or destroyed physically; also : in an unknown physical condition or location a lost ship
Learn More about lost
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See words that rhyme with lost Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lost Spanish Central: Translation of lost Nglish: Translation of lost for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lost for Arabic speakers
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