Lonely Meaning
Lonely Definition & Usage
Feeling sad because of a lack of companionship or friends, typically caused by isolation or the absence of loved ones.
Examples
- "She felt incredibly lonely after moving to a new city where she didn’t know anyone."
- "After his friend moved away, he was lonely for weeks."
- "He sat in his room, feeling lonely even though he was surrounded by people."
- "The old woman lived a lonely life after her husband passed away."
- "Loneliness crept in as she realized she hadn’t had a conversation with anyone in days."
Being in a place or situation where no other people are present.
Examples
- "The remote cabin was located in a lonely corner of the forest."
- "He walked along the lonely beach, the only sound being the crash of the waves."
- "The road was long and lonely, with no sign of civilization in sight."
- "In the middle of the desert, he found himself on a lonely stretch of highway."
- "They camped in a lonely valley, far from the nearest town."
Describing places that are seldom visited, or not frequented by many people.
Examples
- "The lonely streets of the old town seemed abandoned, with only the occasional car passing by."
- "They explored the lonely ruins of a castle that hadn’t been inhabited in centuries."
- "The abandoned amusement park had a lonely, eerie vibe to it."
- "The house stood in a lonely neighborhood, the windows boarded up and the lawn overgrown."
- "The once-bustling market square had become a lonely space, overtaken by weeds and silence."
Cultural Context
The word 'lonely' has evolved over centuries, originally meaning 'alone' or 'solitary' in the early Middle Ages, derived from the Old English 'lan'. Over time, it has come to incorporate emotional dimensions of solitude, where it expresses feelings of sadness and isolation, not just physical emptiness.
The Lonely Road
Story
The Lonely Road
It was late afternoon when Sarah began her walk along the lonely road that stretched through the valley. She had moved to this quiet town a few months ago, hoping for a fresh start, but the isolation of rural life was beginning to take its toll. As she walked, the wind whistled through the trees, and her footsteps echoed in the emptiness. There was no one to be seen; no cars, no houses, not even a bird in the sky. The streetlights flickered, casting long shadows on the empty road. She sighed, feeling the weight of loneliness press down on her chest. She remembered when her childhood friend had promised to visit her after she moved, but the months passed, and Sarah's letters went unanswered. Now, the loneliness felt heavier, a constant companion in every room. At times, the silence in her small house seemed almost suffocating, and she would retreat to the park just to hear the sound of footsteps, the distant murmur of voices. One evening, she decided to take a different route through the town, down a long stretch of road that no one ever seemed to walk. It was a lonely place, and as she looked around at the dilapidated houses and abandoned shops, she realized how much it mirrored her feelings. She longed for connection, but the town seemed as empty as her heart. But as she walked, she noticed a faint light at the end of the street. It was the flicker of a candle in a window. With renewed hope, she made her way toward the light. Perhaps there was someone who could fill the void of her loneliness after all. Sarah never forgot the lesson she learned that day: sometimes, even in the loneliest places, a spark of connection is just around the corner.
