1
: not made use of, won, or claimed
a lost opportunity
2
a
: no longer possessed
a lost reputation
b
: no longer known
a lost tunnel
3
: ruined or destroyed physically or morally : desperate
a lost soul
4
a
: taken away or beyond reach or attainment : denied
regions lost to the faith
b
: insensible, hardened
lost to shame
5
a
: unable to find the way
b
: no longer visible
lost in the crowd
c
: lacking assurance or self-confidence : helpless
lost without his glasses
7
: not appreciated or understood : wasted
Their jokes were lost on me.
8
: obscured or overlooked during a process or activity
lost in translation
9
: hopelessly unattainable : futile
a lost cause
Examples of lost in a Sentence
Adjective
He was looking for his lost keys.
Many have tried to find the ruins of the lost city.
We took a wrong turn and got lost.
Hold my hand. I don't want you to get lost.
He has been trying to recapture his lost youth.
The original music is lost to us forever.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2025
Communicating in person and carrying yourself well in a crowd is a lost art.
—Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
To make up for some of the lost tax revenue, Republicans focused on changes to Medicaid and the food stamps program, largely by imposing work requirements on many of those receiving benefits.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
That feels more and more like a lost art these days.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lost
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
To participate, borrowers must be in good standing with the library, meaning any overdue materials must be returned and any fees over $5 for lost items must be paid.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2025
Communicating in person and carrying yourself well in a crowd is a lost art.
—Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
To make up for some of the lost tax revenue, Republicans focused on changes to Medicaid and the food stamps program, largely by imposing work requirements on many of those receiving benefits.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
That feels more and more like a lost art these days.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lost
Cite this Entry
“Lost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lost. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lost
adjective1
: not used, won, or claimed
lost opportunities
2
: no longer possessed or known
a long lost uncle
3
: ruined or destroyed physically or morally
4
: unable to find the way
a lost puppy
5
: having the mind absorbed and not aware of surroundings
lost in daydreams
6
: futile
a lost cause
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