1
: sad and lonely
a forlorn old widow
2
: empty and in poor condition
a forlorn landscape
a forlorn abandoned factory
3
: not having much chance of success : nearly hopeless
a forlorn cause/hope
He led a forlorn [=desperate] attack against the enemy.
Cite this Entry
“Forlorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/forlorn. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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