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
Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 1 June 2026
The costs of a mid-career stall can translate into tens of thousands of dollars in lost wages, plus other benefits that come with career progression like retirement security, the researchers from Burning Glass Institute and New York University's School of Professional Studies found.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 June 2026
Before Boeing named Kelly Ortberg as CEO in August of 2024, the airplane-maker was an enterprise in crisis, and faith was fading that arguably the most iconic of American manufacturers would ever regain its lost luster.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 June 2026
My sources tell me that console is more or less viewed as a lost cause at this point in terms of dramatically surging market share or the playerbase there.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 1 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
What the administration has not explained is how school districts would replace the lost revenue.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 1 June 2026
The costs of a mid-career stall can translate into tens of thousands of dollars in lost wages, plus other benefits that come with career progression like retirement security, the researchers from Burning Glass Institute and New York University's School of Professional Studies found.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 June 2026
Before Boeing named Kelly Ortberg as CEO in August of 2024, the airplane-maker was an enterprise in crisis, and faith was fading that arguably the most iconic of American manufacturers would ever regain its lost luster.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 June 2026
My sources tell me that console is more or less viewed as a lost cause at this point in terms of dramatically surging market share or the playerbase there.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 1 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 3 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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