lonely
adjective /ˈləʊnli/
/ˈləʊnli/
(comparative lonelier, superlative loneliest)
- unhappy because you have no friends or people to talk to
- She lives alone and often feels lonely.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsb1- She felt oddly lonely without her books.
- He was desperately lonely at school.
- The support they give to lonely old people is invaluable.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- (of a situation or period of time) sad and spent alone
- all those lonely nights at home watching TV
- a lonely childhood
- She contemplated the lonely walk home.
- These characters live sad, lonely lives.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- [only before noun] (of places) where only a few people ever come or visit synonym isolated
- a lonely beach
- a lonely mountain road
- It gets pretty lonely here in winter.
Which Word? alone / on your own / by yourself / lonely / lonealone / on your own / by yourself / lonely / lone- Alone, and on your own/by yourself (which are less formal and are the normal phrases used in spoken English), describe a person or thing that is separate from others. They do not mean that the person is unhappy:
- I like being alone in the house.
- I’m going to London by myself next week.
- I want to finish this on my own (= without anyone’s help).
- Lone/solitary/single mean that there is only one person or thing there; lone and solitary may sometimes suggest that the speaker thinks the person involved is lonely:
- a lone jogger in the park
- long, solitary walks
- Lonely (North American English also lonesome) means that you are alone and sad:
- a lonely child
- Sam was very lonely when he first moved to New York.
- a lonely house
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from lone + -ly.