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
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
The disconnect costs careers, dreams, and billions in lost potential.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are a lost team, which was proven even more in 2024.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Misappropriation of lost property: Between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., the victims used a ride share service to get to their home in the 18000 block of Vanderbilt Drive and left a cellular phone and a wallet in the car, which was misappropriated by the driver for a loss valued at approximately $1,150.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 6 July 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
Kris Bryant is a lost cause, barely able to walk, let alone hit.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 July 2025
The disconnect costs careers, dreams, and billions in lost potential.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are a lost team, which was proven even more in 2024.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Misappropriation of lost property: Between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., the victims used a ride share service to get to their home in the 18000 block of Vanderbilt Drive and left a cellular phone and a wallet in the car, which was misappropriated by the driver for a loss valued at approximately $1,150.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 6 July 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 12 Jul. 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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