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
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 June 2026
He, like the objects, is stuck between here and the hereafter, and is mourning a lost love just as a new one introduces herself.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
These are not the lost arts of a fallen civilization.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
Sergei Diaghilev’s production of Cléopâtre for Les Ballets Russes from 1909 and Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 fueled the beginning of the jeweler’s enchanting creations inspired by the lost civilization.
—Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adjective
Could either take the story of a lost movie and spin it even bigger?
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 June 2026
He, like the objects, is stuck between here and the hereafter, and is mourning a lost love just as a new one introduces herself.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
These are not the lost arts of a fallen civilization.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
Sergei Diaghilev’s production of Cléopâtre for Les Ballets Russes from 1909 and Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 fueled the beginning of the jeweler’s enchanting creations inspired by the lost civilization.
—Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lost
Cite this Entry
“Lost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lost. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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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Merriam-Webster unabridged
