lost

[ lawst, lost ]

adjective

1. no longer possessed or retained:

   lost friends.

   Synonyms: past, former

2. no longer to be found:

   lost articles.

3. having gone astray or missed the way; bewildered as to place, direction, etc.:

   lost children.

   Synonyms: missing, absent

4. not used to good purpose, as opportunities, time, or labor; wasted:

   a lost advantage.

5. being something that someone has failed to win:

   a lost prize.

6. ending in or attended with defeat:

   a lost battle.

7. destroyed or ruined:

   lost ships.

8. preoccupied; rapt:

   He seems lost in thought.

9. distracted; distraught; desperate; hopeless:

   the lost look of a man trapped and afraid.

verb (used with or without object)

1. simple past tense and past participle of lose.

lost

/ lɒst /

adjective

1. unable to be found or recovered
2. unable to find one's way or ascertain one's whereabouts
3. confused, bewildered, or helpless

   he is lost in discussions of theory

4. sometimes foll by on not utilized, noticed, or taken advantage of (by)

   rational arguments are lost on her

5. no longer possessed or existing because of defeat, misfortune, or the passage of time

   a lost art

6. destroyed physically

   the lost platoon

7. foll by to no longer available or open (to)
8. foll by to insensible or impervious (to a sense of shame, justice, etc)
9. foll by in engrossed (in)

   he was lost in his book

10. morally fallen

    a lost woman

11. damned

    a lost soul

12. get lost informal.
    usually imperative go away and stay away

Other Words From

• un·lost adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lost¹

First recorded in 1530–40, for the adjective

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get lost, Slang.
   1. to absent oneself:

      I think I'll get lost before an argument starts.

   2. to stop being a nuisance:

      If they call again, tell them to get lost.

2. lost to,
   1. no longer belonging to.
   2. no longer possible or open to:

      The opportunity was lost to him.

   3. insensible to:

      lost to all sense of duty.

More idioms and phrases containing lost

• get lost
• he who hesitates is lost
• make up for lost time
• no love lost
• you've lost me
• lose

Example Sentences

Although some of the duplicated genes have since been lost, Ma thinks the duplication events may have given rise to altered or alternative transcription sites.

From Science Daily

She ultimately lost her case in the California Supreme Court, but the ordinance was repealed two years later.

From Los Angeles Times

After the Chargers lost back-to-back games this season, Dobbins sat motionless in his locker for several minutes with a towel covering his head.

From Los Angeles Times

She and her partner took time off work and slept in their car for two weeks to stay in the area where the dog was lost rather than returning to their home in El Sereno.

From Los Angeles Times

South Africa are overwhelming favourites to inflict defeat on Wales, who have lost their past 11 Test matches.

From BBC

Related Words

• absent
• adrift
• disoriented
• hidden
• invisible
• misplaced
• vanished