# lonely

/ˈɫoʊnɫi/ (US) · /lˈəʊnli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lonely
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. feeling sad and alone

adjective · CEFR B1

unhappy because you are alone or do not have anyone to talk to.

For teachers: experiencing a sense of sadness or depression resulting from a perceived lack of companionship or social connection.

- He felt lonely during his first week in the new city because he didn't know anyone.
- Moving to a foreign country where she spoke little of the language left her feeling profoundly lonely, despite being surrounded by crowds of people every day.

### 2. without companions

adjective · CEFR B1

being the only person or thing in a place.

For teachers: characterised by being solitary or lacking companions; often used to describe a single person or object in a large space.

- A lonely figure stood on the beach watching the ships go by.
- The hiker was a lonely silhouette against the vast mountain range, appearing tiny and vulnerable in the face of such immense nature.

### 3. a quiet or empty place

adjective · CEFR B2 · Literary

a place that is far away from where people live and is rarely visited.

For teachers: describing a location that is remote, unfrequented, or desolate.

- They drove down a lonely country road for miles without seeing another car.
- The lighthouse stood on a lonely stretch of coastline, battered by the Atlantic winds and miles from the nearest village.

## Examples

- He felt very lonely after his best friend moved away.
- Living in a large city can actually make you feel more lonely if you do not know your neighbors.
- The protagonist's journey is marked by a lonely struggle against a society that refuses to acknowledge his contributions or his humanity.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.