Forlornly: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone feels abandoned or hopeless, often in a lonely or desolate setting.

• She sat forlornly on the bench, staring at the empty playground.
• He wandered forlornly through the deserted streets, with no destination in mind.

Used to express a general feeling of unhappiness or disappointment.

• He smiled sadly, remembering the times they had spent together.
• The news was delivered sadly, explaining the passing of a well-loved teacher.

Used when expressing grief or sorrow, often related to someone’s loss or in a situation of mourning.

• She spoke mournfully of her lost childhood home.
• The wind howled mournfully through the bare trees, like a ghostly wail.

Used to describe a very bleak or empty place or a profound feeling of loneliness and sadness.

• The house stood desolately at the edge of town, with broken windows and overgrown weeds.
• He looked desolately at the ruin of his once-successful business.

Use when expressing a deep sense of sadness or loneliness, often combined with a feeling of abandonment.

• She stared forlornly out the window, watching the rain pour down.
• The old dog sat forlornly by the door, waiting for its owner to return.

Use to describe a situation where someone is completely without power or ability to take action or change the outcome, often connoting a sense of vulnerability.

• The child cried helplessly as the balloon floated away.
• She watched helplessly as the car skidded off the road.

Use when referring to a situation that seems to have no possibility of success or improvement, often with a strong sense of despair and resignation.

• He felt hopelessly lost in the dense forest.
• She looked at the damaged project hopelessly, knowing she couldn't fix it in time.

Use when describing a situation where there is an urgent need or a strong feeling of despair, often with a sense of frantic or intense effort.

• He desperately tried to find his lost keys before the meeting started.
• They desperately worked to save their house from the fire.