Skip to main content

forlornpitifully sad and abandoned or lonely

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely

Pronunciation (IPA): /fərˈlɔːrn/

Example Sentences

  • The abandoned puppy looked so forlorn that everyone at the shelter wanted to adopt it immediately.
  • His forlorn attempt to impress his crush by juggling ended with tomatoes all over his face.
  • The old castle stood forlorn against the stormy sky, its windows dark and empty.

forlorn

ADJECTIVE

[/fərˈlɔːrn/]

pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely

The forlorn puppy waited by the empty doorway, hoping its owner would return.
💡 Concept

The forlorn puppy waited by the empty doorway, hoping its owner would return.

Forlorn and worn, with patches torn
🎵 Rhyme

Forlorn and worn, with patches torn

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/fərˈlɔːrn/
🇬🇧 UK/fəˈlɔːn/

🌳Etymology

Prefixfor--
Rootlorn

Origin

From Old English 'forloren', the past participle of 'forleosan' meaning 'to lose completely'. The prefix 'for-' intensifies the meaning of 'leosan' (to lose), combining to express total abandonment or loss.

Breakdown

for- (completely, utterly) + lorn (archaic past participle of lose, meaning lost or abandoned) = forlorn (completely lost or abandoned)

🎵Rhyme

wornborntornhornscorn
worn
born
torn
horn
scorn

🔗Collocations

forlorn hope
look forlorn
forlorn attempt
feel forlorn
forlorn figure

📝Examples

The abandoned puppy looked so forlorn that everyone at the shelter wanted to adopt it immediately.

😄 Fun example

His forlorn attempt to impress his crush by juggling ended with tomatoes all over his face.

The old castle stood forlorn against the stormy sky, its windows dark and empty.

😄 Fun example

Making a forlorn effort to fix his car with a banana, he finally called a real mechanic.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

desolateabandonedwretchedhopelessdespondent

Antonyms

hopefuloptimisticcheerful

Related

melancholydejecteddismalbereft

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.