lonesome

American  

[lohn-suhm] / ˈloʊn səm /

adjective

1. depressed or sad because of the lack of friends, companionship, etc.; lonely.

   to feel lonesome.

2. attended with or causing such a state or feeling.

   a lonesome evening at home.

3. lonely or deserted in situation; remote, desolate, or isolated.

   a lonesome road.

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idioms

1. on / by one's lonesome, alone: Also by one's lane.

   She went walking by her lonesome.

lonesome British  

/ ˈləʊnsəm /

adjective

1. another word for lonely

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noun

1. informal on one's own

Related Words

See alone.

Other Word Forms

• lonesomely adverb
• lonesomeness noun

Etymology

Origin of lonesome

First recorded in 1640–50; lone + -some ¹

Example Sentences

One such scene in the premiere smash cuts between a lonesome Chris sulking by himself at home.

From Salon

"It reminds you of Hank Williams singing that song, 'I'm so lonesome I could cry.'"

From BBC

It took Ireland eight minutes to score at Murrayfield, the nerveless Sam Prendergast enjoying time and space and a penalty advantage to throw a long left-to-right pass to Calvin Nash, all on his lonesome.

From BBC

Driving around after dark is a lonesome experience, the eerie consequence of what many label a “voluntary” curfew.

From Los Angeles Times

On one particular evening, days before Sam’s birthday — a date that looms large in the life of this lonesome duo — Amelia reads from a book she’s never seen before on the shelf.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deserted
• desolate
• homesick
• isolated
• lonely