lonely

adjective

SayLOHN-lee/ˈloʊnli/UK/ˈləʊnli/AUS/ˈləʉnli/

Formslonelier, loneliest

Often confused with alone

3 meanings of lonely

1
adjective
Feeling sad because you are alone and wish other people were with you.
Like being the only kid at a party where you know nobody.
She felt lonely after all her close friends moved to another city.
The new student was lonely during his first week at the school.
Similarlonesome, isolated, alone, friendless, forlorn
2
adjective
Being by yourself, with no other people or companions around.
The lonely traveler walked the long road on his own all day.
A single lonely tree stood in the middle of the open field.
Similarsolitary, isolated
3
adjective
Far away from people, with almost no one ever going there.
Like a road where you can drive all day and never see another car.
They drove for hours along a lonely desert highway.
The old cabin sat in a lonely valley far from any town.
Similarremote, isolated, desolate, deserted, secluded
Oppositebusy, crowded, bustling

Practice

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Origin

From the word "lone" plus "-ly," or a shortened form of "alonely."