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
lost·ness
plural -es
: the quality or state of being lost
that lostness which is the extreme product of individualism—
T. L. Cook
T. L. CookExamples 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
CNN Money, 8 June 2026
Just the sight of its four front pockets, epaulets, and khaki cloth is enough to conjure a lost world of Land Rovers and sundowners, Hemingwayesque heroes and endless savannahs.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 8 June 2026
The eight-year veteran made a Pro Bowl in 2025 on the back of two straight 1,000-yard seasons, and Denver wouldn’t have made the Waddle trade if there was any risk that either receiver would lose sleep over lost targets.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
The story may involve a car accident, an arrest, a lost phone or a travel problem.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Much of the lost information was reconstructed by Gaudí’s disciples and collaborators, who had documented his ideas in books, articles, drawings and photographs.
—CNN Money, 8 June 2026
Just the sight of its four front pockets, epaulets, and khaki cloth is enough to conjure a lost world of Land Rovers and sundowners, Hemingwayesque heroes and endless savannahs.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 8 June 2026
The eight-year veteran made a Pro Bowl in 2025 on the back of two straight 1,000-yard seasons, and Denver wouldn’t have made the Waddle trade if there was any risk that either receiver would lose sleep over lost targets.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
The story may involve a car accident, an arrest, a lost phone or a travel problem.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 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 10 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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