lonesome
Americanadjective
-
depressed or sad because of the lack of friends, companionship, etc.; lonely.
to feel lonesome.
-
attended with or causing such a state or feeling.
a lonesome evening at home.
-
lonely or deserted in situation; remote, desolate, or isolated.
a lonesome road.
idioms
adjective
noun
Synonym Usage
See alone.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lonesome
Explanation
When you're lonesome, you feel sad about being by yourself, and you miss the company of other people. It's entirely possible to feel lonesome even when you're in a crowd. Living alone on an island might sound appealing sometimes, but it would probably be pretty lonesome in reality. Good elementary school teachers pay attention to which kids look a little lonesome during recess, especially at the beginning of the school year, and match them up with a pal. Lonesome means "lonely," although it's uncommon outside of the US.
Vocabulary lists containing lonesome
Tony Bennett (1926–2023) Tribute List
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Black Star, Bright Dawn
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Duvall often said his favorite role, however, was one he played in a 1989 TV mini-series -- the grizzled, wise-cracking Texas Ranger-turned-cowboy Augustus McCrae in "Lonesome Dove," based on the novel by Larry McMurtry.
From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026
Yet Duvall often looked happiest when riding a horse, be it in the acclaimed TV mini-series Lonesome Dove or in the Kevin Costner Western Open Range.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
He began delivering commissioned projects for luxury brands and celebrities 20 years ago, and a financial pinnacle came in 2008 when his provocative life-size figure “My Lonesome Cowboy” sold for $15.1 million at auction.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025
Even when he did write political songs, Bob never wades into the specifics other than “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,” where he’s literally telling the story of some tragedy, he most often sings obliquely.
From Salon • Dec. 25, 2024
The boy wished she would stop humming and tell a story about the Lord or King David, but she kept humming “That Lonesome Road.”
From "Sounder" by William H. Armstrong
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
