deserted

American  

[dih-zur-tid] / dɪˈzɜr tɪd /

adjective

1. abandoned; forsaken.

   the problems of deserted wives and children.

2. untenanted: without inhabitants.

   a deserted village; a deserted farmhouse.

3. unfrequented; lonely.

   The victim was lured to a deserted spot.

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Other Word Forms

• undeserted adjective

Etymology

Origin of deserted

First recorded in 1620–30; desert ² + -ed ²

Explanation

If something’s deserted it’s empty and abandoned. It's fun to spend an afternoon taking pictures of a deserted house with its overgrown yard and mysterious relics, but come nightfall it might feel a little spooky. The adjective deserted often describes an empty building that’s been abandoned by its owners, but you can use it for anything that’s remote or without any people around. You might get the chills when you walk down a deserted street at night. Deserted can also describe something that’s much less crowded than normal. On Super Bowl Sunday, the shopping mall might be deserted — everyone is home, watching the game.

Example Sentences

By contrast, Newcastle's once trademark ability to bounce back from a bruising defeat has deserted them under Howe in recent weeks.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

In Dubai, unusually light traffic and deserted tourist areas tell the tale of a city still waiting for a return to normality.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

When I visited Havana again this spring to report on the mounting crisis, the malecón was deserted, strewn with brown seaweed that had been flung from the ocean by crashing waves.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

Out of nowhere, McIlroy took control of a swing that had deserted him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

The docks and walkways along the riverfront were also deserted.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

Related Words

• barren
• derelict
• desolate
• empty
• forlorn
• isolated
• lonely
• neglected
• uninhabited
• vacant