adj C2 Proficient

forlorn

fuh-LAWN

Forlorn (adj) means Sad and lonely, especially from feeling abandoned. Example: “The dog sat forlorn by the door, waiting for its owner to return.”

adj

Sad and lonely, especially from feeling abandoned.

"The dog sat forlorn by the door, waiting for its owner to return."

"She wore a forlorn expression after hearing the news."

Unlikely to succeed; nearly hopeless.

"It was a forlorn attempt to save the failing business."

How to use forlorn

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFeeling sad and abandoned, or describing a hopeless, unlikely-to-work situation.

Common pairings

forlorn hope a forlorn figure look forlorn

Word forms

forlorner comparative, more forlorn comparative, forlorns plural, forlornest superlative, most forlorn superlative

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The dog sat _____ by the door, waiting for its owner to return.

Etymology

From Old English forloren, the past participle of forlēosan ("to lose") — related to "lorn," meaning lost or abandoned.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “forlorn” mean?

The word “forlorn” means sad and lonely, especially from feeling abandoned. In plain terms, feeling sad and abandoned, or describing a hopeless, unlikely-to-work situation.

How do you pronounce “forlorn”?

“Forlorn” is pronounced fuh-LAWN (/fɚˈlɔɹn/ in IPA).

How do you use “forlorn” in a sentence?

Here is “forlorn” used in a sentence: “The dog sat forlorn by the door, waiting for its owner to return.”

What part of speech is “forlorn”?

“Forlorn” is an adjective.

Where does the word “forlorn” come from?

The word “forlorn” comes from Old English. From Old English forloren, the past participle of forlēosan ("to lose") — related to "lorn," meaning lost or abandoned.

How many meanings does “forlorn” have?

“Forlorn” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sad and lonely, especially from feeling abandoned.

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C2 vocabulary words