lonely

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'lonely' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that is used to describe feeling isolated and without companionship. Example sentence: She felt so lonely when she moved to a new city without any friends.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was popular at school and had a noted instinct for caring, going out of her way to play with Michael, the neighbour with Down's syndrome, and paying regular visits to a lonely old man down the road known as Mr Partridge.

The Guardian

So far, it has been a pretty lonely fight.

The Guardian - Money

Q: We were scathing about the BBC's decision to buy Lonely Planet.

The Guardian

And then Ray Davies talked about being lonely, and taxi lights shining bright in the busy city, and it made me even more apprehensive about this dizzy, busy place.

The Guardian - Music

Middleton was credited with helping to persuade William not to drop out of university at the end of his lonely first term and to switch courses to read geography.

The Guardian

Snow, in this poem, is merciless and deadly: the lonely Lucy Gray, who wanders out into an unexpected blizzard, gets lost and is never seen again.

The Guardian - Books

Even as a world's lonely eyes turn to Zurich, the unstoppable force of the Rumour Mill ploughs on, like a massive nonsense combine harvester, churning up everything in its path and making us all ponder what exactly it is we're doing here.

The Guardian - Sport

It makes you realise how lonely you were before.

The Guardian - Music

"For the first time in my life I'm lonely," Bill confessed in a rare moment of weakness.

The Guardian

Amanda had three mobiles (that I knew of) and spoke to people from six in the morning to 1am the next day, but I think she will look back at this period as the most lonely in her life.

The Guardian

It's too lonely: "The people you make the film with aren't the people you finish the film with, whereas in theatre it's the same group of people all the way through".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lonely" to convey a sense of sadness and isolation due to a lack of companionship, not just physical solitude. Consider the emotional impact you want to create.

Common error

Avoid using "lonely" when you simply mean someone is by themselves. "Alone" is a neutral state of being without others, while "lonely" implies a negative feeling of isolation and sadness. Use "alone" if there's no intended emotional connotation.

Linguistic Context

The word "lonely" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe a state of emotional or physical isolation, conveying a sense of sadness or longing. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage through numerous examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lonely" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective to portray feelings of isolation and sadness. As Ludwig AI affirms, its usage spans across diverse contexts, predominantly within news and media. When employing "lonely", it's crucial to consider the emotional nuance you intend to convey, distinguishing it from simply being "alone". Alternative terms like "isolated" or "lonesome" can offer subtle variations in meaning. Remember, "lonely" evokes an emotional state, making it a powerful tool for expressing feelings of solitude and longing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

isolated

Focuses on the state of being physically or emotionally separated from others.

lonesome

Highlights the sadness and longing associated with being alone.

solitary

Emphasizes being alone, sometimes by choice, but can still imply a feeling of loneliness.

friendless

Directly indicates a lack of friends.

alienated

Suggests a feeling of estrangement and disconnection from society or a group.

forsaken

Suggests abandonment and a feeling of being deserted by others.

abandoned

Emphasizes the act of being left behind or deserted.

desolate

Implies a bleak and empty feeling, often associated with physical environments.

detached

Indicates a lack of emotional connection or involvement with others.

unaccompanied

Simply means being without a companion, without necessarily implying sadness.

FAQs

How can I use "lonely" in a sentence?

You can use "lonely" to describe a person, place, or situation that feels isolated and evokes sadness. For example, "She felt "lonely" after moving to a new city", or "The "lonely" road stretched on for miles".

What words are similar to "lonely"?

Similar words include "isolated", "solitary", "lonesome", and "desolate". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I am lonely"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Lonely" is an adjective that can be used to describe a person's emotional state. Saying "I am "lonely"" expresses that you are feeling isolated and sad.

What is the difference between "lonely" and "alone"?

"Alone" simply means being by oneself, while "lonely" implies a feeling of sadness and isolation. You can be alone without being lonely, and vice versa. For example, someone might enjoy being "alone", or feel "lonely" even when surrounded by people.