Word
lonesome
Phoneticslone·some, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫoʊnsəm/
UK/lˈəʊnsʌm/
Definition
adj. feeling sad because you are alone or do not have any friends around you. It describes a deep sense of being lonely, often in a way that feels a bit empty or quiet.
adj. feeling a depressive sense of solitude or lack of companionship. Often carries a more emotive or poetic tone than 'lonely' and is frequently used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'sound'.
Examples
“He felt very lonesome after his best friend moved away.”
“The sound of a lonesome whistle echoed through the empty valley as the train passed by.”
“After decades of living in the bustling city, he found the silence of the countryside to be more lonesome than peaceful, missing the constant hum of human activity.”
Examples
simple
“He felt very lonesome after his best friend moved away.”
contextual
“The sound of a lonesome whistle echoed through the empty valley as the train passed by.”
complex
“After decades of living in the bustling city, he found the silence of the countryside to be more lonesome than peaceful, missing the constant hum of human activity.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel', 'look', or 'sound'.
Etymology
From lone + -some, mid-17th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/lonesome