lost

adjective

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\ ˈlȯst

Definition of lost

1 : not made use of, won, or claimed a lost opportunity

2a : no longer possessed a lost reputation

b : 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 faith

b : insensible, hardened lost to shame

5a : 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

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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 on the Web The lost art of steering feel is alive and well at McLaren. — Scott Oldham, Car and Driver, "Tested: 2020 McLaren GT Is Still Very Much a McLaren," 26 Mar. 2020 Ignoring a lost sense of smell, however, could mean doctors don’t detect infection in cases where patients have only mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. — Erin Brodwin, STAT, "Doctors warn an inability to smell could be a symptom of Covid-19 — but caution the evidence is preliminary," 23 Mar. 2020 This is astute in ways that neither of my kids can understand: the astonishing old movie that everyone loves is itself a tribute to a lost era. — Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, "Stealth Kids’ Movies for the Era of Quarantine," 21 Mar. 2020 Of these, lost data and disruption of long-term data are the most concerning, especially in a time of rapid environmental change and for projects where timing is critical to policy actions. — Kristen Pope, Smithsonian Magazine, "How Scientists Are Keeping Irreplaceable Research Going During the COVID-19 Pandemic," 20 Mar. 2020 But while NBCUniversal is powering ahead to make up lost revenue, theaters are suffering. — Jeva Lange, TheWeek, "Coronavirus is going to change the movie industry forever," 18 Mar. 2020 The lost dog was located and returned to its owner, and the caller his dog were soon on their way. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland, "Driver wraps minivan around tree, refuses breath test: Moreland Hills Police Blotter," 13 Mar. 2020 As support for the social mobilization grew—along with the chaos, vandalism, and violence—parties from across the political spectrum, all seeking to regain lost legitimacy, agreed on an itinerary establishing steps toward a new Constitution. — Ariel Dorfman, The New York Review of Books, "Chile: Notes from a Revolt," 13 Mar. 2020 Central to the package is free coronavirus testing nationwide and emergency funding to reimburse lost paychecks for those self-quarantining, missing work or losing jobs amid the outbreak. — Time, "President Trump Suspends Travel Between U.S. and Europe as He Announces New Measures to Fight Coronavirus," 12 Mar. 2020

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.