marooned

American  

[muh-roond] / məˈrund /

adjective

1. abandoned on a desolate island or coast by way of punishment or the like, as was done by buccaneers.

   In exchange for food supplies left for them on the island, the marooned mutineers handed over the ship's instruments and charts.

2. placed or left in an isolated and often dangerous position.

   Getting flood relief to the marooned villages has proved difficult.

3. abandoned or stuck somewhere without resources.

   When flights were grounded after 9/11, Canadians offered their hospitality and their homes to put up marooned Americans.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of maroon.

Etymology

Origin of marooned

maroon ² + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

For Dallas, a 10th straight loss leaves the Mavericks marooned in 12th in the Western Conference, and outside of playoff contention.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

Footage taken in the moments before the impact showed multiple motorists driving around the marooned car.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

“Robinson Crusoe” concerned a longer ordeal: Defoe had drawn on the true account of a Scottish sailor who was marooned on an island near Chile, borrowing themes from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

In Jamaica, "there are entire communities that seem to be marooned and areas that seem to be flattened," Dixon said, adding there are "devastating" scenes in western regions.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025

I might be marooned on an island, but I wondered if I would ever feel this free again in my life.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• ashore
• stranded
• wrecked