lonesome

American  

[lohn-suhm] / ˈloʊn səm /

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.

---

idioms

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

   She went walking by her lonesome.

lonesome British  

/ ˈləʊnsəm /

adjective

1. another word for lonely

---

noun

1. informal on one's own

Related Words

See alone.

Other Word Forms

• lonesomely adverb
• lonesomeness noun

Etymology

Origin of lonesome

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

Example Sentences

From her windows overlooking the Barteljorisstraat, Tante Jans watched them idling by, gazing aimlessly into the shop windows, most of them young, penniless, and lonesome.

From Literature

"No bother at all. I get lonesome. It's good to have people to talk to."

From Literature

She told us how lonesome she was and how much she missed us.

From Literature

Only this time, he was all by his lonesome.

From Los Angeles Times

You know the lonesome call of the whip-poor-will, I am sure.

From Literature

Related Words

• deserted
• desolate
• homesick
• isolated
• lonely