lost

adjective \ ˈlȯst \

Definition of lost

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

6 :rapt, absorbed

lost in reverie

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

—

lostness

play \ˈlȯs(t)-nəs\ noun

See lost defined for English-language learners

See lost defined for kids

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

And in the aftermath of a lost weekend at Progressive Field, the Royals remained on pace to accomplish another rare yet telling feat.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "The bottom two hitters in the Royals lineup? They’re historically bad," 28 Aug. 2017
Otomisan is the last link to Boyle Heights’s days as a Japanese enclave A restaurant like Musso & Frank’s can transport you to a different era, but a tiny one like Otomisan in Boyle Heights takes you to a lost world.

— patric kuh, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Last Bento-Ya in Boyle Heights Transports Diners to the Neighborhood’s Past," 25 Aug. 2017
Crime Stoppers offering reward Naperville Crime Stoppers is offering an award of up to a $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for using credit cards taken from a lost wallet.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "Naperville News Digest," 11 Aug. 2017
As the phony Russian With Hunt continues, two groups are laughing at this excuse for a lost election taking hold, Democrats and Russians!

— isobel thompson, The Hive, "Trump’s Hold on the Republican Party Begins to Break," 24 July 2017
For young Indians in Kolkata or Bangalore, Pakistan is no longer viewed as a lost cousin but simply as a particularly bothersome distant neighbour.

— The Economist, "Reconciliation is not impossible, but it will be a long, slow process," 22 July 2017
However, the production’s tech crew started to scour the premises for several misplaced items, among them a lost dog and a missing salmon.

— deroy murdock, National Review, "The Play That Goes Wrong," 13 July 2017
Glankler wrote in a Facebook post in the Lost Pets Boise page.

— nicole blanchard, idahostatesman, "This dog spent 9 months lost in the Idaho mountains. Here’s how she got home to Boise," 8 July 2017
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.

— joshua stewart, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Animal Services receives dozens of dogs who were scared away by fireworks," 5 July 2017

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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lost Synonyms

Synonyms

gone, mislaid, misplaced, missing

Antonyms

owned, possessed, retained

Related Words

absent, castaway; irrecoverable, irretrievable; forgotten, unknown

Near Antonyms

cherished, loved, prized, protected, treasured, valued

LOST Defined for English Language Learners

lost

adjective

Definition of lost for English Language Learners

: unable to be found
: not knowing where you are or how to get to where you want to go : unable to find your way
: no longer held, owned, or possessed

LOST Defined for Kids

lost

adjective

Definition 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

adjective

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

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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lost

Definition of lost

lostness

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Origin and Etymology of lost

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Synonyms

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Near Antonyms

LOST Defined for English Language Learners

lost

Definition of lost for English Language Learners

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lost

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lost

legal Definition of lost

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