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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Each Little Bird That Sings
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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.
This presents Fed Chair Kevin Warsh with a rather inconvenient truth—if he is still advocating for rate cuts, as in his Senate testimony last month, he may be a lonesome dove.
From Barron's • May 23, 2026
It sets her apart, firmly in the lonesome realm of eternal geekdom.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“We’ve done a few things with those kinds of lonesome, filthy men,” Woliner says with a laugh.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025
One such scene in the premiere smash cuts between a lonesome Chris sulking by himself at home.
From Salon • Aug. 21, 2025
The deserted stoplight creaked as it swung, and that little lonesome moan of a sound broke open whatever was already cracked inside me.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
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.
