lovelorn

adjective

love·​lorn ˈləv-ˌlȯrn How to pronounce lovelorn (audio)
: bereft of love or of a lover
letters from lovelorn soldiers
lovelornness
ˈləv-ˌlȯrn-nəs How to pronounce lovelorn (audio)
noun

Examples of lovelorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
With his eccentric fashion sense and dance moves, lovelorn almost-leading man Duckie remains one of teen cinema’s most memorable characters. — Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2026 As Ten’s lovelorn prison pen pal Lillian, an immobile shut-in, Peggy Fields Richardson initially appears to be a punchline, but goes on to deliver a nuanced turn as a woman who’s long awaited her chance at romance. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 With its fragile acoustic melodies, desolate lyrics, and spare, subtle studio accompaniment, Ride Lonesome is like Nick Drake’s mumble-folk masterpiece Bryter Layter as the work of a lovelorn Laurel Canyon soft-rock poet. — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026 Released in theaters on May 15, Obsession follows the harrowing path of Bear (Johnston), a lovelorn music store employee who has a hopeless crush on his co-worker, Nikki (Navarrette). — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lovelorn

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lovelorn was in 1637

Phrases Containing lovelorn

Browse Nearby Words

lovelock
lovelorn
lovely
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lovelorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lovelorn. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

lovelorn

adjective
love·​lorn ˈləv-ˌlȯ(ə)rn How to pronounce lovelorn (audio)
: deprived of or deserted by one's lover
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All