forlorn
Say it: fuh-LORN /fɚˈlɔrn/ · adjective
What “forlorn” means
Sadly lonely and feeling left behind.
More precisely: Pitifully sad, lonely and abandoned.
Example: “A forlorn dog waited outside the shop for its owner.”
When to use it
Use it for someone who looks painfully lonely or abandoned. It sounds tender and a little literary.
Similar words
lonely, desolate, woebegone
Where it comes from
From Old English forloren, "lost."
Quick check
Everyone has left the party, and one child sits alone beside the untouched games, looking sadly forgotten. The child looks…
wistful or forlorn?
Show the answer
forlorn
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