deserted
/dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/adjective★Intermediate💡 abandoned or left alone
general
Left alone or abandoned, often with a sense of emptiness or neglect
After the storm, the beach was deserted.
There was no one on the beach after the storm.
She felt deserted by her friends when they stopped calling.
She felt abandoned by her friends when they stopped contacting her.
💡
Can describe places, people, or emotions.
Collocations
deserted islandan island with no peopledeserted streeta street with no people or activity
💡Pro Tip
Emotional vs. Physical Use
Can describe both physical abandonment (e.g., a deserted building) and emotional abandonment (e.g., feeling deserted by friends).
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'deserted,' past participle of 'deserten,' from Old French 'deserter,' meaning to abandon.
📝Usage Notes
Often used to describe places that are empty or people who feel abandoned.
Word Breakdown
desert
to abandon or leave
root-ed
past participle suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary