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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
That equates to nearly $6 trillion in lost market value.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
These can lead to a slower speed of weight loss, a weight loss plateau, or the regaining the lost weight.13
6.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2025
American Idol leaned into the Easter Sunday (April 20) holiday with a three-hour episode in which this season’s top 20 sang anthems of faith and devotion, with one contestant turning heads thanks to his original song dedicated to a lost friend.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 Apr. 2025
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
His famous pectoral cross, a simple image of the Good Shepherd carrying a lost sheep on his shoulders, wasn't just a personal emblem.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
That equates to nearly $6 trillion in lost market value.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
These can lead to a slower speed of weight loss, a weight loss plateau, or the regaining the lost weight.13
6.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2025
American Idol leaned into the Easter Sunday (April 20) holiday with a three-hour episode in which this season’s top 20 sang anthems of faith and devotion, with one contestant turning heads thanks to his original song dedicated to a lost friend.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 Apr. 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 4 May. 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
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