Lonely Definition & Meaning

lonely
adjective
  1. lacking companions or companionship; "he was alone when we met him"; "she is alone much of the time"; "the lone skier on the mountain"; "a lonely fisherman stood on a tuft of gravel"; "a lonely soul"; "a solitary traveler"
  2. marked by dejection from being alone; "felt sad and lonely"; "the loneliest night of the week"; "lonesome when her husband is away"; "spent a lonesome hour in the bar"
  3. characterized by or preferring solitude; "a lone wolf"; "a lonely existence"; "a man of a solitary disposition"; "a solitary walk"
  4. devoid of creatures; "a lonely crossroads"; "a solitary retreat"; "a trail leading to an unfrequented lake"

Synonyms for lonely

alone adv

without any others being included or involved; "was entirely to blame

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
dejected adj

affected or marked by low spirits; "is dejected but trying to look cheerful"

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
lone adj

lacking companions or companionship; "he was alone when we met him"; "she is alone much of the time

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
lonesome adj

being the only one; single and isolated from others; "the lone doctor in the entire county"; "a lonesome pine

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
solitary adj

characterized by or preferring solitude; "a lone wolf"; "a lonely existence"; "a man of a solitary disposition

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
unfrequented adj

devoid of creatures; "a lonely crossroads"; "a solitary retreat"; "a trail leading to an unfrequented lake"

♫ Rhymes

"Lonely" in song lyrics

See how lonely is used in real songs:

  • "Not only that, strictly by myself, sometimes I tend to get lonely"
    69 Boyz — Da Mote(l)
  • "Somebody told me the road to freedom is lonely"
    Aceyalone & RJD2 — Cornbread, Eddie and Me
  • "If only, yeah but I'm lonely"
    Aesop Rock — Dryspell

Words that rhyme with lonely

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Usage tips for "lonely"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "lonely" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for lonely to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with lonely ↔ Synonyms for lonely 🔬 Words containing lonely

Frequently asked questions

What does lonely mean?
lacking companions or companionship; "he was alone when we met him"; "she is alone much of the time"; "the lone skier on the mountain"; "a lonely fisherman stood on a tuft of gravel"; "a lonely soul"; "a solitary traveler" marked by dejection from being alone; "felt sad and lonely"; "the loneliest night of the week"; "lonesome when her husband is away"; "spent a lonesome hour in the bar" characterized by or preferring solitude; "a lone wolf"; "a lonely existence
What part of speech is lonely?
Lonely is an adjective.
How many definitions does lonely have?
Lonely has 4 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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