Language/English/Vocabulary/Alone,-lonely,-lonesome-and-lone

Alone, lonely, lonesome and lone

Alone means ‘without others around’. Lonely (and informal American English lonesome) means 'alone and unhappy because of it’

Compare:

• I like to be alone for short periods.

• But after a few days I start getting lonely/lonesome. 

Alone can be emphasised by all

Example:

• After her husband died, she was all alone. 

Alone is not used before a noun. Lone and solitary can be used instead; lone is rather literary

Example:

• The only green thing was a lone/solitary pine tree.

Other Lessons

• Tongue twisters
• As long as
• At first and first
• Cause vs Purpose
• At Home
• Along
• Top Job Interview Questions
• Altogether and all together
• Most Common Greek Roots
• Collocations with make