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Definition of lone

lone

/loʊn/
lone
Adverb:lonely
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lone Lexical Profile

lone Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Having no companions; solitary or single.

Example

"A lone hiker stood at the edge of the canyon, admiring the vast landscape below."

2

Unfrequented and remote; isolated (of a place).

Example

"They sought shelter in a lone cabin high up on the windswept moor."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lone
Antonyms
View all antonyms for lone

Word Nuance & Usage

In standard modern English, 'lone' is used almost exclusively as an attributive adjective before a noun (e.g., 'a lone wolf'), whereas 'alone' is used predicatively after a linking verb (e.g., 'the wolf was alone'). Do not confuse it with the homophone 'loan', which refers to something borrowed.

• Rhymes for lone

• Nearby Words

lome
london
london planetree
lone
loneliness
lonely
loner

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in the late 14th century, 'lone' is a shortened form of 'alone' through apheresis (the loss of an unstressed initial vowel), which itself comes from Old English 'all ana', meaning 'wholly by oneself'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lone. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lone
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