ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lonesome

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫoʊnsəm// UK //lˈəʊnsʌm// lone·some Informal

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'.


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.

Synonyms
Origin

From lone + -some, mid-17th century.

Usage

Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel', 'look', or 'sound'.

© 2026 English Reference