1
: not made use of, won, or claimed
a lost opportunity
2
a
: no longer possessed
a lost reputation
b
: no longer known
a lost tunnel
3
: ruined or destroyed physically or morally : desperate
a lost soul
4
a
: taken away or beyond reach or attainment : denied
regions lost to the faith
b
: insensible, hardened
lost to shame
5
a
: unable to find the way
b
: no longer visible
lost in the crowd
c
: lacking assurance or self-confidence : helpless
lost without his glasses
7
: not appreciated or understood : wasted
Their jokes were lost on me.
8
: obscured or overlooked during a process or activity
lost in translation
9
: hopelessly unattainable : futile
a lost cause
Examples of lost in a Sentence
Adjective
He was looking for his lost keys.
Many have tried to find the ruins of the lost city.
We took a wrong turn and got lost.
Hold my hand. I don't want you to get lost.
He has been trying to recapture his lost youth.
The original music is lost to us forever.
Recent Examples on the Web
Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
The lost hour of sleep has been shown to lead to an increase in medical problems such as heart attacks, and the practice has also been theorized to lead to more car crashes.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Mar. 2025
By halting premature Bitcoin sales, which have cost taxpayers $17 billion in lost value, the administration aims to maximize its holdings' potential.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The lost art of a handwritten note, written with care to simply say 'thinking of you' and placed in an actual mailbox (with an actual stamp) and sent with love.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
However, last year was a lost season for him as he was riddled with injuries.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
The lost hour of sleep has been shown to lead to an increase in medical problems such as heart attacks, and the practice has also been theorized to lead to more car crashes.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Mar. 2025
By halting premature Bitcoin sales, which have cost taxpayers $17 billion in lost value, the administration aims to maximize its holdings' potential.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The lost art of a handwritten note, written with care to simply say 'thinking of you' and placed in an actual mailbox (with an actual stamp) and sent with love.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lost
Cite this Entry
“Lost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lost. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lost
adjective1
: not used, won, or claimed
lost opportunities
2
: no longer possessed or known
a long lost uncle
3
: ruined or destroyed physically or morally
4
: unable to find the way
a lost puppy
5
: having the mind absorbed and not aware of surroundings
lost in daydreams
6
: futile
a lost cause
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