Meaning & Definition of Lonely in English

1. Lacking companions or companionship

• "He was alone when we met him"

• "She is alone much of the time"

• "The lone skier on the mountain"

• "A lonely fisherman stood on a tuft of gravel"

• "A lonely soul"

• "A solitary traveler"

2. Marked by dejection from being alone

• "Felt sad and lonely"

• "The loneliest night of the week"

• "Lonesome when her husband is away"

• "Spent a lonesome hour in the bar"

3. Characterized by or preferring solitude

• "A lone wolf"

• "A lonely existence"

• "A man of a solitary disposition"

• "A solitary walk"

4. Devoid of creatures

• "A lonely crossroads"

• "A solitary retreat"

• "A trail leading to an unfrequented lake"