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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024
And also somebody who decided, at least for the purposes of Coachella, that his lost calling was to be a stuntman.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
That’s because the kooky performances help bring every wild scene and gothic set piece to life, as an oddly macabre clan (helmed by Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston) spars with a con man who resembles their lost relative.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024
The report said the 75 countries eligible for grants and zero-interest loans from the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) risk a lost decade of development without ambitious policy shifts and significant international aid.
—Fox News, 15 Apr. 2024
Depending on when Levine Cava recommends a budget adjustment to the commission to cover the lost revenue, the fees will end on July 1 or Oct. 1, the start of the 2025 budget year.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
On the contrary, dispensaries often mark up cannabis accessory products by a staggering 300%, while neighboring smoke shops do not, resulting in lost opportunities for smoke shops to capture.
—Harrison Bard, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024
Authorities with the Everett - Massachusetts Animal Control are asking for the public’s help to locate the owner of a lost cat.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
This is especially dire given that many still have not recovered from lost rents in 2020 due to the pandemic.
—Nikki Beasley, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Russia’s lost empire was contiguous, not overseas, and lasted far longer—indeed, for most of the existence of the modern Russian state.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024
And also somebody who decided, at least for the purposes of Coachella, that his lost calling was to be a stuntman.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
That’s because the kooky performances help bring every wild scene and gothic set piece to life, as an oddly macabre clan (helmed by Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston) spars with a con man who resembles their lost relative.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024
The report said the 75 countries eligible for grants and zero-interest loans from the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) risk a lost decade of development without ambitious policy shifts and significant international aid.
—Fox News, 15 Apr. 2024
Depending on when Levine Cava recommends a budget adjustment to the commission to cover the lost revenue, the fees will end on July 1 or Oct. 1, the start of the 2025 budget year.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
On the contrary, dispensaries often mark up cannabis accessory products by a staggering 300%, while neighboring smoke shops do not, resulting in lost opportunities for smoke shops to capture.
—Harrison Bard, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024
Authorities with the Everett - Massachusetts Animal Control are asking for the public’s help to locate the owner of a lost cat.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
This is especially dire given that many still have not recovered from lost rents in 2020 due to the pandemic.
—Nikki Beasley, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near lost
Cite this Entry
“Lost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lost. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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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