Dictionary
1lonesome
adjective lone·some \ˈlōn(t)-səm\
: sad from being apart from other people
: causing sad feelings that come from being apart from other people
: not visited by or traveled on by many people
Full Definition of LONESOME
1
a : sad or dejected as a result of lack of companionship or separation from others <don't be lonesome while we are gone> b : causing a feeling of loneliness <the empty house seemed so lonesome>
2
a : remote, unfrequented <look down, look down that lonesome road — Gene Austin> b : lone
— lone·some·ly adverb
— lone·some·ness noun
See lonesome defined for English-language learners
See lonesome defined for kids
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First Known Use of LONESOME
1647
Related to LONESOME
- Antonyms
- accompanied
Synonym Discussion of LONESOME
alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others. alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms <everyone needs to be alone sometimes>. solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course <glorying in the calm of her solitary life> but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss <left solitary by the death of his wife>. lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship <felt lonely and forsaken>. lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy <an only child often leads a lonesome life>. lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone <a lone robin pecking at the lawn>. forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear <a forlorn lost child>. desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement <desolate after her brother's death>.
2lonesome
noun
LONESOME Defined for Kids
lonesome
adjective lone·some \ˈlōn-səm\
Definition of LONESOME for Kids
1
: sad from being without companions
2
: not often visited or traveled over <the lonesome frontier>
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