ENGLISH
REFERENCE

loneliness

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɫoʊnɫinəs// UK //lˈəʊnlinəs// lone·li·ness Archaic

n. the unhappy feeling you have when you are alone and do not have any friends or people to talk to. It is different from just being alone because it feels sad or empty.

n. a state of sadness or isolation resulting from a perceived lack of social connection or companionship. Refers to the subjective emotional distress rather than the objective state of being solitary.


SIMPLE

He felt a deep sense of loneliness after moving to the new city.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite being surrounded by colleagues at the office, she struggled with a persistent feeling of loneliness throughout the day.

COMPLEX

Sociologists argue that modern urban design can inadvertently increase loneliness by reducing the spontaneous social interactions that once occurred in traditional communal spaces.

Synonyms
Origin

From lonely + -ness.

Usage

Uncountable in its general sense; often follows verbs like 'feel', 'suffer from', or 'overcome'.

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