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
Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
Instead, new savings are needed to offset the lost real value.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
The biggest increases in lost sleep were in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
—Olivia Rudgard / Bloomberg, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Users can also submit an image of a piece of jewelry for production through Arcade, which Naficy said she’s seen in the platform’s beta testing from customers who want to recreate a family heirloom or a lost piece of jewelry.
—Layla Ilchi, WWD, 30 Oct. 2024
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
Sofia is still shedding a tear for Gia’s lost innocence when Oz calls her with the news he’s killed Sal.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
Instead, new savings are needed to offset the lost real value.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
The biggest increases in lost sleep were in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
—Olivia Rudgard / Bloomberg, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Users can also submit an image of a piece of jewelry for production through Arcade, which Naficy said she’s seen in the platform’s beta testing from customers who want to recreate a family heirloom or a lost piece of jewelry.
—Layla Ilchi, WWD, 30 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 22 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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