lost
Americanadjective
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no longer possessed or retained.
lost friends.
-
no longer to be found.
lost articles.
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having gone astray or missed the way; bewildered as to place, direction, etc..
lost children.
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not used to good purpose, as opportunities, time, or labor; wasted.
a lost advantage.
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being something that someone has failed to win.
a lost prize.
-
ending in or attended with defeat.
a lost battle.
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destroyed or ruined.
lost ships.
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He seems lost in thought.
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distracted; distraught; desperate; hopeless.
the lost look of a man trapped and afraid.
verb (used with or without object)
idioms
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get lost,
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to absent oneself.
I think I'll get lost before an argument starts.
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to stop being a nuisance.
If they call again, tell them to get lost.
-
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lost to,
-
no longer belonging to.
-
no longer possible or open to.
The opportunity was lost to him.
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insensible to.
lost to all sense of duty.
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adjective
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unable to be found or recovered
-
unable to find one's way or ascertain one's whereabouts
-
confused, bewildered, or helpless
he is lost in discussions of theory
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(sometimes foll by on) not utilized, noticed, or taken advantage of (by)
rational arguments are lost on her
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no longer possessed or existing because of defeat, misfortune, or the passage of time
a lost art
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destroyed physically
the lost platoon
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(foll by to) no longer available or open (to)
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(foll by to) insensible or impervious (to a sense of shame, justice, etc)
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(foll by in) engrossed (in)
he was lost in his book
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morally fallen
a lost woman
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damned
a lost soul
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informal (usually imperative) go away and stay away
Other Word Forms
- unlost adjective
Etymology
Origin of lost
First recorded in 1530–40, for the adjective
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.
Early nesting birds have lost eggs, and conservationists warn spring may bring noticeably fewer butterflies and insects as floodwaters have swept away eggs and overwintering larvae.
From BBC
Hull KR beat Brisbane Broncos to win the World Club Challenge just 10 days ago but have now lost their opening two Super League games of the season.
From BBC
"With the martyrdom of the supreme leader, his path and mission neither will be lost nor will be forgotten, on the other hand, they will be pursued with greater vigour and zeal," a presenter said.
From Barron's
When Clarity – the UK's oldest social enterprise – collapsed five years ago, more than a hundred workers lost their jobs and salaries.
From BBC
The majority can be pinned on the ludicrously ill-judged appointment of Nancy, but under Brendan Rodgers they lost to Dundee and Hearts and under O'Neill lost to Hibs and drew with Hearts.
From BBC
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.
