What does loneliness mean?
Definitions for loneliness
lone·li·ness
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word loneliness.
Princeton's WordNet
loneliness, solitarinessnoun
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
forlornness, loneliness, desolationnoun
sadness resulting from being forsaken or abandoned
aloneness, loneliness, lonesomeness, solitarinessnoun
a disposition toward being alone
Wiktionary
lonelinessnoun
A feeling of depression resulting from being alone.
lonelinessnoun
The condition of being lonely; solitude; seclusion.
lonelinessnoun
The state of being unfrequented.
the loneliness of a road
lonelinessnoun
Love of retirement; disposition to solitude.
I see / The mystery of your loneliness. uE000202743uE001 Shakespeare.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Lonelinessnoun
Solitude; want of company; disposition to avoid company.
Etymology: from lonely.
The huge and sportful assembly grew to him a tedious loneliness, esteeming nobody sound since Daiphantus was lost. Philip Sidney.
I see
The mystery of your loneliness, and find
Your salt tears head. William Shakespeare.
Wikipedia
Loneliness
Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social pain – a psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections. It is often associated with a perceived lack of connection and intimacy. Loneliness overlaps and yet is distinct from solitude. Solitude is simply the state of being apart from others; not everyone who experiences solitude feels lonely. As a subjective emotion, loneliness can be felt even when a person is surrounded by other people. Hence, there is a distinction between being alone and feeling lonely. Loneliness can be short term (state loneliness) or long term (chronic loneliness). In either case, it can be intense and painful. The causes of loneliness are varied. Loneliness can be a result of genetic inheritance, cultural factors, a lack of meaningful relationships, a significant loss, an excessive reliance on passive technologies (notably the Internet in the 21st century), or a self-perpetuating mindset. Research has shown that loneliness is found throughout society, including among people in marriages along with other strong relationships, and those with successful careers. Most people experience loneliness at some points in their lives, and some feel it often. The effects of loneliness are also varied. Transient loneliness (loneliness which exists for a short period of time) is related to positive effects, including an increased focus on the strength of one's relationships. Chronic loneliness (loneliness which exists for a significant amount of time in one's life) is generally correlated with negative effects, including increased obesity, substance use disorder, risk of depression, cardiovascular disease, risk of high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Chronic loneliness is also correlated with an increased risk of death and suicidal thoughts. Medical treatments for loneliness include beginning therapy and taking antidepressants. Social treatments for loneliness generally include an increase in interaction with others, such as group activities (such as exercise or religious activities), re-engaging with old friends or colleagues, and becoming more connected with one's community. Other social treatments for loneliness include the ownership of pets and loneliness-designed technologies, such as meetup services or social robots (although the use of some technologies in order to combat loneliness is debated). Loneliness has long been a theme in literature, going back to the Epic of Gilgamesh. However, academic coverage of loneliness was sparse until recent decades. In the 21st century, some academics and professionals have claimed that loneliness has become an epidemic, including Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General of the United States. However, this claim has been disputed, with critics arguing that loneliness has not increased, but rather only academic focus on the topic has.
ChatGPT
loneliness
Loneliness is a subjective emotional state characterized by feelings of isolation, emptiness, or abandonment. It occurs when an individual perceives a gap between their desired level of social interaction and actual level of social engagement. It is not necessarily about being physically alone, but could also involve feeling emotionally disconnected or not understood by others.
Webster Dictionary
Lonelinessnoun
the condition of being lonely; solitude; seclusion
Lonelinessnoun
the state of being unfrequented by human beings; as, the loneliness of a road
Lonelinessnoun
love of retirement; disposition to solitude
Lonelinessnoun
a feeling of depression resulting from being alone
Wikidata
Loneliness
Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to isolation. Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings about a lack of connectedness or communality with other beings, both in the present and extending into the future. As such, loneliness can be felt even when surrounded by other people. The causes of loneliness are varied and include social, mental, emotional, and spiritual factors. Research has shown that loneliness is widely prevalent throughout society among people in marriages, relationships, families and successful careers. It has been a long explored theme in the literature of human beings since classical antiquity. Loneliness has also been described as social pain — a psychological mechanism meant to alert an individual of isolation and motivate him/her to seek social connections.
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Loneliness
The state of feeling sad or dejected as a result of lack of companionship or being separated from others.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
- [["1581","1"],["1683","1"],["1685","1"],["1719","1"],["1720","1"],["1723","1"],["1724","2"],["1727","1"],["1730","2"],["1736","2"],["1738","9"],["1742","1"],["1743","1"],["1744","1"],["1750","1"],["1753","19"],["1754","1"],["1758","1"],["1759","7"],["1761","3"],["1762","1"],["1764","3"],["1765","1"],["1770","5"],["1771","1"],["1772","3"],["1773","2"],["1775","3"],["1776","1"],["1777","1"],["1783","10"],["1784","1"],["1785","4"],["1786","1"],["1787","4"],["1788","2"],["1789","3"],["1790","4"],["1791","3"],["1792","14"],["1793","3"],["1794","11"],["1795","13"],["1796","5"],["1797","9"],["1798","13"],["1799","43"],["1800","32"],["1801","24"],["1802","8"],["1803","18"],["1804","17"],["1805","11"],["1806","113"],["1807","29"],["1808","26"],["1809","20"],["1810","20"],["1811","69"],["1812","40"],["1813","29"],["1814","69"],["1815","109"],["1816","50"],["1817","103"],["1818","105"],["1819","103"],["1820","292"],["1821","137"],["1822","208"],["1823","220"],["1824","286"],["1825","303"],["1826","299"],["1827","353"],["1828","275"],["1829","287"],["1830","360"],["1831","378"],["1832","348"],["1833","375"],["1834","429"],["1835","544"],["1836","558"],["1837","526"],["1838","637"],["1839","624"],["1840","655"],["1841","751"],["1842","568"],["1843","689"],["1844","779"],["1845","1113"],["1846","815"],["1847","854"],["1848","1208"],["1849","1066"],["1850","1349"],["1851","1061"],["1852","1320"],["1853","1372"],["1854","1510"],["1855","1152"],["1856","1492"],["1857","1343"],["1858","1253"],["1859","1365"],["1860","1509"],["1861","1050"],["1862","915"],["1863","1039"],["1864","1319"],["1865","1420"],["1866","1453"],["1867","1665"],["1868","1575"],["1869","1749"],["1870","1524"],["1871","1729"],["1872","1682"],["1873","1712"],["1874","1814"],["1875","1679"],["1876","2003"],["1877","2049"],["1878","1921"],["1879","1907"],["1880","2406"],["1881","2337"],["1882","3125"],["1883","3230"],["1884","2772"],["1885","2736"],["1886","2102"],["1887","2715"],["1888","2611"],["1889","2386"],["1890","2563"],["1891","2670"],["1892","3028"],["1893","3246"],["1894","3126"],["1895","3145"],["1896","3860"],["1897","3940"],["1898","3957"],["1899","4975"],["1900","5491"],["1901","4921"],["1902","4837"],["1903","5035"],["1904","5249"],["1905","5090"],["1906","5256"],["1907","5200"],["1908","5806"],["1909","4680"],["1910","5796"],["1911","5594"],["1912","5880"],["1913","5889"],["1914","5661"],["1915","4320"],["1916","5014"],["1917","5431"],["1918","4234"],["1919","5483"],["1920","6000"],["1921","5023"],["1922","6132"],["1923","5058"],["1924","5158"],["1925","4984"],["1926","4702"],["1927","5584"],["1928","5386"],["1929","5410"],["1930","5805"],["1931","5331"],["1932","4834"],["1933","4656"],["1934","4863"],["1935","5797"],["1936","5431"],["1937","5434"],["1938","5204"],["1939","5259"],["1940","4953"],["1941","5078"],["1942","4557"],["1943","4078"],["1944","3849"],["1945","4750"],["1946","6289"],["1947","7106"],["1948","6725"],["1949","7256"],["1950","7212"],["1951","7718"],["1952","6907"],["1953","7849"],["1954","7732"],["1955","9084"],["1956","8858"],["1957","9353"],["1958","8939"],["1959","8874"],["1960","11873"],["1961","12962"],["1962","12615"],["1963","13441"],["1964","14660"],["1965","14867"],["1966","15092"],["1967","17291"],["1968","18369"],["1969","18603"],["1970","20031"],["1971","19295"],["1972","21416"],["1973","22689"],["1974","21646"],["1975","21550"],["1976","24501"],["1977","25392"],["1978","25952"],["1979","27769"],["1980","31272"],["1981","27325"],["1982","35260"],["1983","30295"],["1984","31982"],["1985","33533"],["1986","35836"],["1987","37816"],["1988","35646"],["1989","36837"],["1990","38682"],["1991","40437"],["1992","42840"],["1993","42777"],["1994","43922"],["1995","43265"],["1996","46539"],["1997","45458"],["1998","46660"],["1999","51444"],["2000","56577"],["2001","55393"],["2002","61805"],["2003","63743"],["2004","74727"],["2005","71793"],["2006","73382"],["2007","81305"],["2008","107810"]]
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of loneliness in Chaldean Numerology is: 4
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of loneliness in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7
Examples of loneliness in a Sentence
Some may want to be in a relationship, but are unable to find the groove, this can lead to a loss of self-esteem and feelings of loneliness or even depression.
The dread of loneliness is greater than the fear of bondage, so we get married.
Loneliness doesn’t come from missing someone it comes from being disconnected from yourself.
People need to realize that [ loneliness ] is a common problem. It is a serious problem, loneliness is sad ; nobody disagrees with that.
To fall in love is easy, even to remain in it is not difficult our human loneliness is cause enough. But it is a hard quest worth making to find a comrade through whose steady presence one becomes steadily the person one desires to be.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for loneliness
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- انفراد, عزلةArabic
- osamělostCzech
- ensomhedDanish
- EinsamkeitGerman
- μοναξιάGreek
- solecoEsperanto
- soledadSpanish
- einsemiFaroese
- solitudeFrench
- uaigneasIrish
- aonaranachdScottish Gaelic
- अकेलापनHindi
- solitudineItalian
- בְּדִידוּתHebrew
- 寂しい, 孤独Japanese
- tenêtî, تهنهاییKurdish
- solitudoLatin
- eenzaamheidDutch
- samotnośćPolish
- solidãoPortuguese
- одиночествоRussian
- осамљеност, самоћа, samoća, osamljenost, самота, samota, samost, usamljenost, самoст, усамљеностSerbo-Croatian
- osamelosťSlovak
- ensamhetSwedish
- yalnizlikTurkish
- اکیلاپنUrdu
- sự cô đơnVietnamese
Get even more translations for loneliness »
Translation
Find a translation for the loneliness definition in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"loneliness." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/loneliness>.
Discuss these loneliness definitions with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In