lost in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost in" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in a variety of contexts that generally refer to getting confused or overwhelmed in a situation, or to being absorbed in a particular activity or thought. For example: She got completely lost in thought, not noticing the sunset that was taking place outside.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You're lost in yourself.

The New York Times

She lost in court.

The New York Times - Arts

I'm lost in ambivalence.

The New Yorker

Baylor lost in court.

The New York Times - Sports

They lost in the quarterfinals.

The New York Times

Talk about lost in translation.

Independent

Kataria seemed lost in thought.

The New Yorker

(He lost in November 2006).

The New York Times

He looks lost in thought.

The New York Times

It lost in the semifinals.

The New York Times - Sports

Chicago lost in five games.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lost in" to vividly describe a state of deep absorption or engagement, whether it's with a thought, activity, or environment. For instance, "She was lost in the music, completely oblivious to her surroundings."

Common error

Ensure you're using the past participle "lost" rather than the verb "lose" when describing a state of being deeply engrossed. "I tend to lose in thought" is incorrect; the right way is "I tend to get "lost in" thought."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost in" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a state of being deeply engrossed or immersed. Ludwig examples show it describing being absorbed in thoughts, music, or even a physical location. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

16%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lost in" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to describe a state of deep absorption or immersion, as confirmed by Ludwig. It’s grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives like "engrossed in" and "absorbed in" exist, "lost in" maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles. Pay attention not to confuse it with lose/loss. Ludwig's examples showcase its descriptive power, making it an excellent choice for conveying profound engagement or disorientation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

engrossed in

Focuses more on being deeply involved or captivated by something.

absorbed in

Highlights the complete focus and attention directed towards something.

immersed in

Emphasizes being completely surrounded or enveloped by something.

preoccupied with

Suggests that one's mind is primarily occupied with something, potentially to the exclusion of other things.

caught up in

Implies being swept away or entangled in a situation or emotion.

consumed by

Indicates that something is taking over one's thoughts or actions completely.

adrift in

Conveys a sense of being directionless or without purpose within a particular space or situation.

bewildered by

Highlights the confusion and disorientation caused by something.

disoriented in

Focuses on the loss of sense of direction or awareness.

mired in

Suggests being stuck or trapped in a difficult or unpleasant situation.

FAQs

How can I use "lost in" in a sentence?

You can use "lost in" to describe being deeply absorbed or engrossed in something, such as "He was "lost in" a good book" or "She was "lost in" thought."

What's a more formal alternative to "lost in"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "engrossed in", "absorbed by", or "immersed in". For example, instead of saying "He was "lost in" his work", you could say "He was "engrossed in" his work".

When is it appropriate to use "lost in translation"?

"Lost in translation" is appropriate when the meaning of something is altered or obscured during translation from one language to another. This phrase highlights the nuances that are difficult to convey perfectly across different languages and cultures.

What does it mean to be "lost in the sauce"?

The idiom "lost in the sauce" generally means to be overly intoxicated or to be deeply engrossed in an activity to the point of losing awareness of your surroundings or behaving erratically. It suggests a lack of control or a state of being overwhelmed by the situation.