lost for words

phrase

chiefly British
: unable to think of anything to say
I was so surprised to see her that I was lost for words.

Examples of lost for words in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He is never lost for words, his answers fluent, flowery and free of ums or ers. Andy McGrath, New York Times, 11 July 2026 And, after his resounding victory, the 25-year-old Perth native and Dana White's Contender Series graduate admitted he was almost lost for words after his spectacular victory. Simon Head, Newsweek, 9 Feb. 2025 He was lost for words — as were his entire family, who watched him from the front row among almost a dozen members of his agency and club executives. Mario Cortegana, The Athletic, 27 July 2024 It's equipped with a powerhouse of specs—a 12nm processor, ample memory, and a battery that keeps the conversation going, ensuring one is never lost for words, whether the meeting is planned or impromptu. William Mullane, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 Conrad Thompson got a phone call last December from wrestling legend Jerry Brisco that left the famed wrestling podcaster stunned and at a rare lost for words. John Sharp | [email protected], al, 26 July 2023 People are seldom lost for words, in any tale told by Aaron Sorkin, but this particular loss—words torn away from a citizen, by the state, in the name of the law—is a crime. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2020

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Cite this Entry

“Lost for words.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lost%20for%20words. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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