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
Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 18 May 2026
In practice, however, spare capacity can’t completely substitute for lost supply from the Persian Gulf.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Rossellini plays the formidable Madame de Noailles, an old-school aristocrat devoted to Marie Antoinette and haunted by a lost love.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 May 2026
Idalina takes calls from families who are trying to track down lost relatives, and searches for their names on flight manifests.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lost
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Adjective
Choosing the wrong approach can lead to higher fees, unnecessary credit damage or months of lost progress.
—Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 18 May 2026
In practice, however, spare capacity can’t completely substitute for lost supply from the Persian Gulf.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Rossellini plays the formidable Madame de Noailles, an old-school aristocrat devoted to Marie Antoinette and haunted by a lost love.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 May 2026
Idalina takes calls from families who are trying to track down lost relatives, and searches for their names on flight manifests.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 15 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 20 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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Merriam-Webster unabridged
