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 • Aug. 21, 2025

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 • Feb. 10, 2025

Skinny is lonesome and confused until six Junior Club cartoonists — including Hardie Gramatky, who went on to become a watercolorist admired by Andrew Wyeth — walk into the frame and heartily welcome the boy.

From New York Times • Jun. 4, 2024

Michele Castañeda-Martinez’s job as a division administrator for the county’s Department of Public Health includes ensuring a proper cremation and interment of the ashes of people who die such lonesome deaths.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2024

You know the lonesome call of the whip-poor-will, I am sure.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• deserted
• desolate
• homesick
• isolated
• lonely