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
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Heather Knight Jim Wilson, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2023
And the one that didn't result in a punt ended in a lost fumble.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2023
Each bag also comes with a latch lock and has a Tumi tracer, a unique serial number that helps reunite travelers with their lost or stolen items.
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2023
Tessa apologized for the lost bag and told him to buy replacements for everything lost, including a new bag, and to be sure to save the receipts for reimbursement.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
The lost boy, whose name was Bill, was sixteen years old.
—David Owen, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2023
Anderson Economic Group estimated that a 10-day strike would cost $5.6 billion in lost output and push swing-state Michigan into recession.
—Irving Mejia-Hilario, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
That leaves automakers with limited means to plan for lost production.
—David Welch, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2023
But the drive ended on a lost fumble by Jerome Ford.
—Tim Bielik, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2023
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Adjective
The narrative threatens the city’s recovery of lost convention and tourism traffic.
—Heather Knight Jim Wilson, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2023
And the one that didn't result in a punt ended in a lost fumble.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2023
Each bag also comes with a latch lock and has a Tumi tracer, a unique serial number that helps reunite travelers with their lost or stolen items.
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2023
Tessa apologized for the lost bag and told him to buy replacements for everything lost, including a new bag, and to be sure to save the receipts for reimbursement.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
The lost boy, whose name was Bill, was sixteen years old.
—David Owen, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2023
Anderson Economic Group estimated that a 10-day strike would cost $5.6 billion in lost output and push swing-state Michigan into recession.
—Irving Mejia-Hilario, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
That leaves automakers with limited means to plan for lost production.
—David Welch, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2023
But the drive ended on a lost fumble by Jerome Ford.
—Tim Bielik, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lost.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
past participle of lose
Time Traveler
The first known use of lost was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing lost
Dictionary Entries Near lost
Cite this Entry
“Lost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lost. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
Legal Definition
lost
adjective1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on lost
Nglish: Translation of lost for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lost for Arabic Speakers
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