truly lost

USAGE SUMMARY

"truly lost" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize how completely someone is lost, like when talking about a difficult period in their life. For example: "He was truly lost without his best friend by his side."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If your device is truly lost, you can start the Lost Mode process by clicking the button in the device's Options window.

WikiHow

I did not realize the lost quality of Reeves until he was truly lost".

The New Yorker

Well then all is  truly lost.

Independent

"We have truly lost a legacy".

The New York Times

"Today we have truly lost our sister".

The Guardian

Our nation has truly lost a brilliant warrior for justice.

The New York Times

the Church has truly lost a Great Priest.

The New York Times

The world is truly lost in trying to find a way out of the current crisis.

The New York Times

The passionate women she encounters will teach Opal that integrity and hope are never truly lost.

The Guardian

I've seen that blow up in the faces of families that have truly lost their kids.

The Guardian - Tech

Anything less would render generations of courageous struggle and soul-searching a truly lost cause.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to ensure that "truly lost" accurately conveys the intended meaning. It works well when highlighting a significant or impactful state of being lost, but it can be replaced by other adjectives that better convey the intended nuance such as 'completely', 'utterly' or 'absolutely'.

Common error

While "truly lost" is effective, avoid overuse. Over-repetition can diminish its impact. Vary your language by using synonyms like "completely lost" or "utterly disoriented" to maintain clarity and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "truly lost" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "truly" modifies and intensifies the adjective "lost". It describes the state or condition of someone or something being lost in a significant or profound way. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

13%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "truly lost" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to emphasize the intensity of being lost. As Ludwig AI indicates, its correct usage in written English is well-supported by numerous examples from varied sources. The phrase is frequently found in news and media, and wiki articles, reflecting its broad applicability. When writing, ensure that the profound sense of disorientation or absence is accurately conveyed. While effective, avoid overusing the phrase; consider alternatives like "completely lost" or "utterly disoriented" to maintain a fresh, impactful expression. It's a neutral phrase in terms of register, which makes it suitable for general use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely misplaced

Replaces "lost" with "misplaced" and "truly" with "genuinely", emphasizing the authenticity of being misplaced.

absolutely adrift

Uses "adrift" to convey a sense of being without direction, similar to being lost and replaces "truly" with "absolutely" for emphasis.

utterly disoriented

Replaces "lost" with "disoriented", focusing on the mental state of confusion, and "truly" with "utterly" to amplify the extent.

irretrievably gone

Shifts the focus to something that cannot be recovered, instead of a person or object that is lost.

completely unrecoverable

Similar to "irretrievably gone", this suggests something cannot be regained, focusing on the impossibility of return.

well and truly gone

Emphasizes the state of being gone using an intensifier, similar to "truly lost" but focusing on absence.

hopelessly astray

Emphasizes that someone is lost in a hopeless way and replaces "truly" with "hopelessly".

thoroughly bewildered

Replaces the concept of 'lost' with a mental state of confusion and adds the adverb 'thoroughly' to enhance the feeling of being overwhelmed.

definitively unfindable

Highlights the definitive inability to find something or someone, moving away from the general concept of being lost.

plainly unrecoverable

Emphasizes the evident impossibility of recovering something, which is a step away from the idea of being simply lost.

FAQs

What does "truly lost" mean?

"Truly lost" means completely disoriented, missing, or without direction, emphasizing the depth or intensity of the lost state. It can refer to physical location, emotional state, or a metaphorical sense of being lost in life.

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

You can use "truly lost" to describe someone's state of being. For example, "After wandering for hours, they were "completely lost" in the woods", or "She felt "utterly disoriented" after the breakup".

What are some alternatives to "truly lost"?

Some alternatives include "completely lost", "utterly disoriented", "genuinely misplaced", "absolutely adrift", or "irretrievably gone", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey. Explore the "related phrases" section on this page for more "well and truly gone".

Is there a difference between "truly lost" and "completely lost"?

While both phrases convey a sense of being lost, "truly lost" often implies a deeper or more profound sense of disorientation or absence, emphasizing the authenticity of feeling lost. "Completely lost" simply conveys that someone is entirely without direction or knowledge. The former evokes a strong emotion while the latter conveys the lack of orientation.