deserted
Americanadjective
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abandoned; forsaken.
the problems of deserted wives and children.
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untenanted: without inhabitants.
a deserted village; a deserted farmhouse.
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unfrequented; lonely.
The victim was lured to a deserted spot.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deserted
Explanation
If something’s deserted it’s empty and abandoned. It's fun to spend an afternoon taking pictures of a deserted house with its overgrown yard and mysterious relics, but come nightfall it might feel a little spooky. The adjective deserted often describes an empty building that’s been abandoned by its owners, but you can use it for anything that’s remote or without any people around. You might get the chills when you walk down a deserted street at night. Deserted can also describe something that’s much less crowded than normal. On Super Bowl Sunday, the shopping mall might be deserted — everyone is home, watching the game.
Vocabulary lists containing deserted
Nobody's Home: Synonyms For "Absent"
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Persepolis
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There's No There There: Synonyms for "Empty"
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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.
Filled with dark, deserted streets and way-spooky buildings, this visually atmospheric film is not for the faint of heart.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Most Palestinian shopkeepers in the Old City had pulled down their metal shutters and deserted the stone alleyways.
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
Countless buildings have been destroyed, and streets remain deserted as residents are reluctant or unable to return.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
“Office workers from outside the area and business travelers are no longer coming,” he said, speaking near a largely deserted avenue watched by a lone gun-toting guard.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
On New Year’s Eve the parlor was deserted, for the two younger girls played dressing maids and the two elder were absorbed in the all-important business of ‘getting ready for the party’.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
