adjective
lonely
LOHN-lee
adjective
1
Sad because of feeling isolated from other people.
"He felt lonely after moving to a new city where he knew no one."
"Retirees can feel lonely once daily work routines disappear."
2
Empty of people; deserted.
"They drove for miles along a lonely stretch of highway."
How to Use Lonely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling sad and isolated from others, or (of a place) empty and deserted.
Common pairings
feel lonely
a lonely road
lonely nights
Word Forms
lonelier comparative, loneliest superlative
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He felt _____ after moving to a new city where he knew no one.
Etymology
From "lone" plus "-ly," or possibly a shortened form of "alonely."