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Prepositions after adjectives

How to use prepositions after lost

Lost is commonly followed by in for absorption or confusion and by on for misunderstanding. Other combinations are usually separate time or place phrases rather than fixed patterns.

Quick answer

Common combinations with lost

Use lost in when someone is absorbed in thoughts or cannot find their way. Use lost on when something is not understood by someone. Lost at and lost for usually introduce separate details such as time or words, not fixed adjective patterns. Lost of is not standard.

She was lost in thought during the meeting.
The joke was lost on him.
We got lost in the forest after sunset.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
lost in + place or activity

Showing lack of direction or deep absorption

Use lost in for physical direction or complete mental attention.

They were lost in the city.
He became lost in the music.
2
lost on + person

Showing that something is not understood

Use lost on when an idea, joke, or message fails to affect or reach someone.

The reference was lost on the audience.
Her sarcasm was lost on me.
3
lost for + noun

Showing lack of something needed

Use lost for mainly in expressions such as lost for words.

I was lost for words after the announcement.
She seemed lost for an explanation.
4
lost at + time or place

Adding a separate detail about location or time

At usually introduces an adjunct, not a fixed adjective-preposition combination.

We got lost at the station during the storm.
The child was lost at night in the woods.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
lost in
She was lost in a novel.
deeply absorbed or unable to find the way
lost on
The technical terms were lost on beginners.
not understood or appreciated
lost for
He was lost for words.
unable to think of something needed
lost of
Not standard in current English.
avoid this combination

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using lost of

Lost of is not an idiomatic adjective-preposition combination.

✕ She was lost of the discussion. ✓ She was lost in the discussion.

Confusing lost in and lost on

Lost in means absorbed. Lost on means not understood.

✕ The joke was lost in me. ✓ The joke was lost on me.

Using on for physical direction

Use lost in for places and areas.

✕ We were lost on the forest. ✓ We were lost in the forest.

Forgetting the object after lost on

Lost on normally needs a person or group.

✕ The message was lost on. ✓ The message was lost on the audience.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was completely ___ thought.
2. The humour was ___ the children.
3. After the speech, he was ___ words.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say lost on someone?

Yes. Lost on someone means not understood or appreciated by that person.

Is lost of correct English?

No. Lost of is not a standard combination.

What does lost in thought mean?

It means deeply absorbed in thinking.

labour-in-for-with-on, to "large in" or "large of"? "late in" or "late for"? lawful for, to, in, unto or under? "lax in", "lax on" or "lax about"? lazy in, about, with, to or for? "leading to" or "leading of"? leery of, about or over? left in, for, over, with or to? leftover from, of, for, in or after? "legal in" or "legal for"? "legitimate for" or "legitimate in"?

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