Lonely Meaning in English
word
/ˈɫoʊnɫi/
LOHN-lee
/lˈəʊnli/
LOHN-lee
Definition
Feeling sad because you are alone or because you do not have as much company, friendship, or connection as you want. It describes an emotional feeling, not just the fact of being by yourself.
Usage & Nuances
Don't confuse 'lonely' with 'alone': 'alone' means by yourself, but 'lonely' means you feel sad about it. Common patterns: 'feel lonely', 'get lonely', 'a lonely place'. It can describe both people and places, and is neutral in formality.
Spanish: solo - solitarioPortuguese (BR): solitário - sozinhoPortuguese (PT): solitário - sozinhoChinese (Simplified): 孤独的 - 寂寞的Chinese (Traditional): 孤獨的 - 寂寞的Hindi: अकेला महसूस करने वाला - उदास और अकेलाArabic: وحيد - يشعر بالوحدةBengali: একাকী - নির্জনRussian: одинокийJapanese: 孤独な - 寂しいVietnamese: cô đơnKorean: 외로운Turkish: yalnızUrdu: تنہا - اکیلاIndonesian: kesepian
Example Sentences
I feel lonely at night.
basic
The old house looks lonely on the hill.
basic
She was lonely after her friend moved away.
basic
Working from home gets lonely sometimes.
natural
You can be in a crowd and still feel lonely.
natural
Call me if you get lonely while I'm away.
natural