lonesome

1 of 2

adjective

lone·​some ˈlōn(t)-səm How to pronounce lonesome (audio)
Synonyms of lonesomenext
1
a
: sad or dejected as a result of lack of companionship or separation from others
don't be lonesome while we are gone
b
: causing a feeling of loneliness
the empty house seemed so lonesome
2
a
: remote, unfrequented
look down, look down that lonesome road—Gene Austin
b
: lone
lonesomely adverb
lonesomeness noun

lonesome

2 of 2

noun

: self
sat all by his lonesome

Synonyms

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for lonesome

alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others.

alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course

glorying in the calm of her solitary life

but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

left solitary by the death of his wife

lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

Examples of lonesome in a Sentence

Adjective He was lonesome for his family. The empty house seemed so lonesome.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
That was a great, emotional moment, but a lonesome one. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Our ancestors peopled the most lonesome reaches of the globe, from Hawaii to Easter Island, in the span of just a few thousand years. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024
Noun
Antarctica, though, would stay by its lonesome in the south. —Sarah Zhang, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2012 At 11 seconds, the defense left Rudy Gobert all by his lonesome for an easy alley-oop from Mitchell to give the Jazz the lead. —Dallas News, 23 Apr. 2022 See all Example Sentences for lonesome 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lonesome was in 1647

Phrases Containing lonesome

Dictionary Entries Near lonesome

lone scout

lonesome

Lone Star

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Lonesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lonesome. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

lonesome

adjective
lone·​some
ˈlōn(t)-səm
1
: sad from lack of companionship or separation from others
2
: not often visited or traveled over
a lonesome highway
the lonesome frontier
lonesomeness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lonesome

Nglish: Translation of lonesome for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of lonesome for Arabic Speakers

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