lonesome

[ lohn-suhm ]

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.

lonesome

/ ˈləʊnsəm /

adjective

1. another word for lonely

noun

1. on one's lonesome or by one's lonesome informal.
   on one's own

Derived Forms

• ˈlonesomely, adverb
• ˈlonesomeness, noun

Other Words From

• lonesome·ly adverb
• lonesome·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lonesome¹

First recorded in 1640–50; lone + -some ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on / by one's lonesome, Informal. alone: Also Scot., by one's lane.

   She went walking by her lonesome.

Synonym Study

See alone.

Example Sentences

Driving around after dark is a lonesome experience, the eerie consequence of what many label a “voluntary” curfew.

From Los Angeles Times

On one particular evening, days before Sam’s birthday — a date that looms large in the life of this lonesome duo — Amelia reads from a book she’s never seen before on the shelf.

From Los Angeles Times

Shy himself is movingly human — full of vim but also lonesome and afraid.

From Los Angeles Times

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

At times in his scenes with Krieps, you’d swear his smitten expressions are as much about a director’s gratitude than a lonesome tradesman’s good fortune.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deserted
• desolate
• homesick
• isolated
• lonely