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
Synonyms
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
David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
There are no known images of the lost city, Canuto said, only LiDAR maps, because no one has ever been there with local residents, possibly suspecting that ruins may lie beneath the mounds of earth.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
Handel sometimes gets a bit lost along the way in Every Valley.
—Jan Swafford, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
Lack Of Clarity Without clear directions, team members may feel lost, unsure of what is expected of them or which priorities to focus on.
—Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lost 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adjective
The survey showed 25% were compensated for lost luggage, 20% for damage to personal belongings and 21% for a personal injury.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
There are no known images of the lost city, Canuto said, only LiDAR maps, because no one has ever been there with local residents, possibly suspecting that ruins may lie beneath the mounds of earth.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024
Handel sometimes gets a bit lost along the way in Every Valley.
—Jan Swafford, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
Lack Of Clarity Without clear directions, team members may feel lost, unsure of what is expected of them or which priorities to focus on.
—Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lost
Dictionary Entries Near lost
Cite this Entry
“Lost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lost. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
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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