disoriented
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of disoriented
Explanation
To be disoriented is to feel lost or confused. People who are disoriented either don’t know where they are because they’ve lost their sense of direction, or they don’t know who they are because they’ve lost their sense of self. Disoriented people feel confused, particularly about place and purpose. If you’ve ever been lost in a new city, you’ve felt disoriented. If you bring a squirrel into your house, it’ll probably be disoriented and bonk into a wall. Getting a concussion could make you disoriented. Diseases like Alzheimer’s can make people feel disoriented. Being disoriented is a confusing, scary feeling. Disoriented comes from the French word that means "to turn from the east."
Vocabulary lists containing disoriented
The Kite Runner
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The Sea of Monsters
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The Unteachables
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If you’re feeling a little disoriented by it all, join Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern on this week’s show for a clearer understanding of what’s going on at One, First Street.
From Slate • Mar. 21, 2026
“Subject left on foot and does not possess a phone. He may be disoriented and in need of assistance,” the statement said.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026
Young patrons in the bar, disoriented by the smoke and panic, tried to escape through the front door, causing a crush at the exit.
From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026
Readers may be disoriented by the flow of a poem that was meant to be listened to, not read, but once engaged, they will find it difficult to disengage.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025
Within hours of her call to Crownsville, Deborah became disoriented and had trouble breathing.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
