lonely

American  

[lohn-lee] / ˈloʊn li /

adjective

lonelier, loneliest

1. affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone; lonesome.

2. destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship, intercourse, support, etc..

   a lonely exile.

3. lone; solitary; without company; companionless.

4. remote from places of human habitation; desolate; unfrequented; bleak.

   a lonely road.

   Synonyms:

   unpopulated, uninhabited

5. standing apart; isolated.

   a lonely tower.

   Synonyms:

   secluded

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lonely British  

/ ˈləʊnlɪ /

adjective

1. unhappy as a result of being without the companionship of others

   a lonely man

2. causing or resulting from the state of being alone

   a lonely existence

3. isolated, unfrequented, or desolate

4. without companions; solitary

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Related Words

See alone.

Other Word Forms

• lonelihood noun
• lonelily adverb
• loneliness noun
• unlonely adjective

Etymology

Origin of lonely

First recorded in 1600–10; lone + -ly

Example Sentences

Being in the entertainment industry can feel really lonely.

From Los Angeles Times

At the end of last year, the Office for National Statistics research found that 33% of Britons aged 16 to 29 reported feeling lonely "often, always or some of the time".

From BBC

"You often find me at home in my pyjamas and it's very lonely, so knowing that people are coming in and picking up pieces of my soul essentially, is such an incredible feeling," she said.

From BBC

Those who are lonely are often targeted by scammers, who have become more sophisticated.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Romance” was born during a lonely night when Mrs. Kirkland sought to connect again with her husband by sifting through his photographs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• deserted
• desolate
• destitute
• empty
• homeless
• isolated
• lonesome
• reclusive
• solitary