lonesome

lone-some · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Feeling sad or melancholy because of a lack of companionship or being alone.

  2. 2.

    Unfrequented and remote; desolate (of a place).

  3. 3.

    (North American) Causing feelings of loneliness.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    all by one's lonesome — Completely alone (informal)
  • •
    lonesome as a cloud — Extremely lonely or isolated

Related words

Antonyms: accompanied, sociable, surrounded
See also: alone, forlorn, lonely, solitary
Synonyms: forlorn, isolated, lonely, solitary

Etymology

From Middle English lone ("solitary") + -some (suffix forming adjectives). The word became especially popular in American English, particularly in country and folk music.