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
Alex Saric, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
The Nordic nations, including Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, ranked in the top 10 countries and were among the top places for expected and actual return of lost wallets, the report said.
—Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2025
But if that path becomes lost, all will not be lost to Ukraine.
—Celeste A. Wallander, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2025
The $14 million was what the judge determined to be the potential loss to developers due to the city’s holdup of the project, including lost profits, inflation, the increasing cost of materials, and interest and utility costs.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
These inefficiencies take their toll in the form of lost strategic opportunities.
—Alex Saric, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
The Nordic nations, including Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, ranked in the top 10 countries and were among the top places for expected and actual return of lost wallets, the report said.
—Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2025
But if that path becomes lost, all will not be lost to Ukraine.
—Celeste A. Wallander, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2025
The $14 million was what the judge determined to be the potential loss to developers due to the city’s holdup of the project, including lost profits, inflation, the increasing cost of materials, and interest and utility costs.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 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 31 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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