adjective
lonesome
LOHN-suhm
adjective
1
Feeling sad from being alone; lonely.
"He grew lonesome out on the ranch with no neighbours for miles."
How to Use Lonesome
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slightly old-fashioned or informal word for lonely.
When to use it
More common in American and especially Southern/country usage than in British English.
Common pairings
feeling lonesome
a lonesome trail
lonesome nights
Word Forms
more lonesome comparative, lonesomes plural, most lonesome superlative
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Etymology
From "lone" plus "-some," dating to the mid-17th century.