/ lɒst; NAmE lɔːst/ adjective
1.
unable to find your way; not knowing where you are :
We always get lost in London.
We're completely lost.
2.
that cannot be found or brought back :
I'm still looking for that lost file.
Your cheque must have got lost in the post.
3.
[ usually before noun ] that cannot be obtained; that cannot be found or created again :
The strike cost them thousands of pounds in lost business .
She's trying to recapture her lost youth .
He regretted the lost (= wasted) opportunity to apologize to her.
4.
[ not before noun ] unable to deal successfully with a particular situation :
We would be lost without your help.
I felt so lost after my mother died.
He's a lost soul (= a person who does not seem to know what to do, and seems unhappy) .
5.
[ not before noun ] unable to understand sth because it is too complicated :
They spoke so quickly I just got lost.
Hang on a minute—I'm lost.
—see also lose verb
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IDIOMS
- all is not lost
- be lost for words
- be lost in sth
- be lost on sb
- be lost to the world
- get lost
- give sb up for lost
- make up for lost time
—more at love noun