Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lost

/lɔst/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.39 in modern English

Syllables: lost
IPA: /lɔst/

4

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

simple past and past participle of lose

adj

Having wandered from, or unable to find, the way.

adj

In an unknown location; unable to be found.

adj

Not perceptible to the senses; no longer visible.

adj

Parted with; no longer held or possessed.

adj

Not employed or enjoyed; thrown away; employed ineffectually; wasted; squandered.

adj

Ruined or destroyed, either physically or morally; past help or hope.

adj

Hardened beyond sensibility or recovery; alienated; insensible.

Example Sentences

"The children were soon lost in the forest."
"Deep beneath the ocean, the Titanic was lost to the world."
"an island lost in a fog; a person lost in a crowd"
"a lost limb; lost honour"
"a lost day; a lost opportunity or benefit; no time should be lost"
"a ship lost at sea; a woman lost to virtue; a lost soul"

Etymology

From Middle English loste, losede (preterite) and Middle English lost, ilost, ilosed (past participle), from Old English losode (preterite) and Old English losod, ġelosod, equivalent to lose + -t.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: loste, lost, losode, losod
Suffix: lose

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /lɔst/
British English: /lɒst/

Inflected Forms

los' (alternative) loss (alternative) loster (comparative) more lost (comparative) lostest (superlative) most lost (superlative)

Derived Forms

Lostaway lostling lostness unlost

Phrases

I lost my backpack I lost my bag I lost my glasses I lost my handbag I lost my keys I lost my wallet I've lost my keys long-lost

Synonyms

missed helpless confused disoriented baffled befuddled bemused bewildered confounded mazed mixed-up at sea

Homonyms

last (trap–bath split)

Rhymes With

low-cost crossed frost exhaust tossed criss-crossed embossed aust glossed lacoste defrost accost

Questions

How do you pronounce lost?: The recorded pronunciation is /lɔst/.
What does lost mean?: simple past and past participle of lose
Where does lost come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce lost

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “lost”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/lɔst/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “lost”.
Repeat and practice — Say “lost” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.