lone

adjective

ˈlōn How to pronounce lone (audio)
Definition of lonenext
1
as in only
being the one or ones of a class with no other members the lone ripe apple in the entire bag

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in single
not being in the company of others just one lone cow in the middle of the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lone distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of lone are alone, desolate, forlorn, lonely, lonesome, and solitary. While all these words mean "isolated from others," lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

When would alone be a good substitute for lone?

The words alone and lone can be used in similar contexts, but alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

When is it sensible to use desolate instead of lone?

The meanings of desolate and lone largely overlap; however, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is forlorn a more appropriate choice than lone?

Although the words forlorn and lone have much in common, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How are the words lonely and solitary related as synonyms of lone?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

When might lonesome be a better fit than lone?

The synonyms lonesome and lone are sometimes interchangeable, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When can solitary be used instead of lone?

In some situations, the words solitary and lone are roughly equivalent. However, solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

glorying in the calm of her solitary life
left solitary by the death of his wife

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lone The Richardson, Texas, native was picked 29th overall in the NBA Draft, his stock sliding after an ankle injury disrupted his lone year at UConn. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025 Barring a last-minute substitution, the Angels will not have a representative in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in Atlanta after their lone American League All-Star, pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, bowed out of the game on Friday. —Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 12 July 2025 Only one employee was present, seated behind a desk at the rear of the arcade, along with a lone customer playing slots. —Josh Salman, Miami Herald, 11 July 2025 Ryan Chambers, 21 of Elmira, N.Y., was the lone adult in the packed Rogue at the time. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for lone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lone
  1. only
  2. single
  3. one
  4. solitary
  5. sole
  6. lonely
  7. special
  8. solo
Adjective
  • Merrell Women's Moab 3 Mid Hiking Shoes Merrell Men's Moab 3 Hiking Shoes Unsurprisingly, my brother and I aren’t the only fans of these hiking shoes.
    — Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2025
  • The only part of me still alert is my ears, my listening muscles crouched and thrumming.
    — Helen Whybrow July 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
Definition of only
Adjective
  • Buckley’s single reenters the Hot Rock Songs list at No. 16, a new all-time peak, and nearly matches its best showing on the other ranking, missing its No. 22 high point by one slot in just its second turn on that roster.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Machado began the bottom of the sixth with a single grounded through the middle of the infield on the first pitch of his at-bat.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
Definition of single
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    — SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Definition of one
Adjective
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
  • They are known to be solitary and nocturnal, but can sometimes be found in small family groups.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Definition of solitary
Adjective
  • The sole features cleat-like prongs for gripping the court’s surface.
    — Paige Levinson, SELF, 14 July 2025
  • Player Stats Analysis for the Weekend In Premier: Jade Kawamoto was the sole player to go undefeated this weekend, winning all six of her matches for the LA Mad Drops.
    — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of sole
Adjective
  • While Bowie envisioned an Earth careening toward apocalypse in a flamboyant, theatrical cry, Drake’s five leaves are quieter, lonelier — more like the end of a season than the end of a world.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
  • By January, Musk had transitioned to lieutenant, making up DOGE, complete with cringey swag, like a lonely preteen dreaming up a secret club in his tree house.
    — Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025
Definition of lonely
Adjective
  • Castiglioni teased exclusive products are in the pipeline for the opening of the store, following in the footsteps of special drops the brand launches on its e-commerce, such as three recent iterations of a Plan C bag crafted from archival fabrications.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
  • Missouri’s offer, passed during a hectic special session last month, would fund up to 50% of new construction or stadium improvements.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2025
Definition of special
Adjective
  • Prince Louis may be spending a solo day at home with the family's beloved longtime nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, or his grandparents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
    — Stephanie Petit, People.com, 13 July 2025
  • Big Beat electronica pioneer The Crystal Method, now a solo project for co-founder Scott Kirkland, began in 1993, has released seven album and has influenced a generation of film and TV scores.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025
Definition of solo

Phrases Containing lone

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lollygags
lone
loneliness
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Cite this Entry

“Lone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lone. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of lone for Spanish Speakers

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