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
Austin Turner, CBS News, 11 May 2026
While the suspension may sound like meaningful relief for consumers, experts say the move won’t lower prices by a significant amount, and that’s because the lost revenue would need to be offset elsewhere in the budget.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 11 May 2026
This dereliction of duty from the current head of the office is costing the county tens of millions of dollars in lost interest.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Competing with the footballers was a lost battle.
—Sarah Moreno
may 7, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Reis Beck Simi Youth Baseball A third death occurred on the night of May 7 in Garden Grove, where a 13-year-old lost control of an e-motorcycle while traveling about 35 miles per hour and collided with the center median.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 11 May 2026
While the suspension may sound like meaningful relief for consumers, experts say the move won’t lower prices by a significant amount, and that’s because the lost revenue would need to be offset elsewhere in the budget.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 11 May 2026
This dereliction of duty from the current head of the office is costing the county tens of millions of dollars in lost interest.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Competing with the footballers was a lost battle.
—Sarah Moreno
may 7, Miami Herald, 7 May 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 13 May. 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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