adjective
lonely
Unhappy because of being alone or lacking companionship.
She feels lonely when her friends are away for the summer.
Etymology
Lonely is formed from lone, itself shortened from alone, with -ly. It developed from describing solitude to describing the unhappiness that solitude can cause.
More examples
- You can feel lonely even in a crowded room.
- He grows lonelier each week without someone to talk to.
- Calling my sister helps me feel less lonely.
Forms
lonely · lonelier · loneliest
loneliness noun — Unhappiness caused by a lack of companionship.