lonely
LOHN-lee
Lonely (adjective) means Sad because of feeling isolated from other people. Example: “The old man grew lonely after his wife died and his friends moved away.”
adjective
1
Sad because of feeling isolated from other people.
"The old man grew lonely after his wife died and his friends moved away."
"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.
"At night, the lonely beach was silent, with not a soul in sight."
"She walked home along a dark, lonely lane with no houses nearby."
"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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
feel lonely
a lonely road
lonely nights
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Word forms
- Comparative
- lonelier
- Superlative
- loneliest
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The old man grew _____ after his wife died and his friends moved away.
Etymology
From "lone" plus "-ly," or possibly a shortened form of "alonely."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for lonely
See all rhymes for lonely →Frequently asked questions
What does “lonely” mean?
The word “lonely” means sad because of feeling isolated from other people. In plain terms, feeling sad and isolated from others, or (of a place) empty and deserted.
How do you pronounce “lonely”?
“Lonely” is pronounced LOHN-lee (/ˈloʊnli/ in IPA).
How do you use “lonely” in a sentence?
Here is “lonely” used in a sentence: “He felt lonely after moving to a new city where he knew no one.”
What is another word for “lonely”?
Words with a similar meaning to “lonely” include lonesome.
What part of speech is “lonely”?
“Lonely” is an adjective.
Is “lonely” a common word?
“Lonely” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “lonely” have?
“Lonely” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sad because of feeling isolated from other people.
What is the difference between "lonely" and "alone"?
"Alone" simply means being by oneself, which can be neutral or even pleasant, while "lonely" describes the sad feeling of being isolated from other people. You can be alone without feeling lonely, and you can feel lonely even in a crowd.
What is the difference between "lonely" and "lonesome"?
Both describe sadness at feeling isolated from others, and they are close synonyms. "Lonesome" is more common in American and in informal or poetic use, while "lonely" is the more neutral, widely used term.
Can a place be described as "lonely"?
Yes. Besides describing a sad, isolated person, "lonely" can describe a place that is empty of people or deserted, as in "a lonely stretch of road." In that sense it means remote and unfrequented rather than emotionally sad.
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