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
Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Ruff turned to 37-year-old James Reimer at the end of a lost season because the veteran gave the team a better chance to win.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Denver cannot afford another generation of lost potential.
—Elaine Gantz Berman, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
Because of the immediate lost revenue, cuts are already on the table for the current fiscal year, which ends in June 2026.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
For Wong, relegated to backup duties, the season just completed was largely a lost one.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Ruff turned to 37-year-old James Reimer at the end of a lost season because the veteran gave the team a better chance to win.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Denver cannot afford another generation of lost potential.
—Elaine Gantz Berman, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
Because of the immediate lost revenue, cuts are already on the table for the current fiscal year, which ends in June 2026.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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