lonely

[ lohn-lee ]

adjective

lonelier, loneliest.

1. affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone; lonesome.
2. destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship, intercourse, support, etc.:

   a lonely exile.

3. lone; solitary; without company; companionless.
4. remote from places of human habitation; desolate; unfrequented; bleak:

   a lonely road.

   Synonyms: unpopulated, uninhabited

5. standing apart; isolated:

   a lonely tower.

   Synonyms: secluded

lonely

/ ˈləʊnlɪ /

adjective

1. unhappy as a result of being without the companionship of others

   a lonely man

2. causing or resulting from the state of being alone

   a lonely existence

3. isolated, unfrequented, or desolate
4. without companions; solitary

Derived Forms

• ˈloneliness, noun

Other Word Forms

• loneli·ly adverb
• loneli·ness loneli·hood noun
• un·lonely adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lonely¹

First recorded in 1600–10; lone + -ly

Synonym Study

See alone.

Example Sentences

"It can be a lonely job running a festival," he adds.

From BBC

Alexis Deacon's children's book Beegu, about a lonely yellow alien who finds herself lost on Earth, is adapted for ages three to seven and is at the Unicorn Theatre, London, until 4 May.

From BBC

She’s a little embarrassed, struggling to explain why she would want to tackle another lonely, thankless project, but defiant too, because, clearly, this is a mission.

From Los Angeles Times

She’s quite lonely in that relationship, but so is he.

From Los Angeles Times

Her job is to help find new activities and groups for the lonely and then accompany them until they are settled.

From BBC

Related Words

• deserted
• desolate
• destitute
• empty
• homeless
• isolated
• lonesome
• reclusive
• solitary