While both "lonely" and "solitary" describe being alone, they have quite different connotations. "Lonely" implies a feeling of sadness and isolation due to a lack of connection with others. It suggests a negative emotional state. "Solitary," on the other hand, simply means being alone, without necessarily implying any negative emotion. It can even have a positive connotation, suggesting peacefulness or independence.

For example:

• "I felt lonely after my best friend moved away." (Meaning: I was sad and missed my friend.)
• "I felt lonely sitting alone in the large auditorium." (Meaning: I was sad because I was isolated from others.)
• "She enjoyed her solitary walk in the woods." (Meaning: She liked being alone in the woods; it wasn't a negative experience.)
• "The solitary figure on the hill looked mysterious." (Meaning: The person alone on the hill seemed mysterious; no emotion is implied.)

Notice how "lonely" is always connected to negative emotions, while "solitary" can describe a state of being alone without any judgment about the emotional state.

Another way to think about it is this: "lonely" focuses on the emotional aspect of being alone, while "solitary" focuses on the physical state of being alone. You can be solitary without feeling lonely, but you can't feel lonely without being solitary (at least somewhat).

Let's look at some more example sentences:

• "He lives a solitary life in the mountains" (He lives alone in the mountains. This statement is neutral; it doesn't describe his emotional state.)
• "He felt lonely because he had no friends" (He was sad because he had no friends.)
• "She spent a solitary afternoon reading in her garden" (She enjoyed spending her afternoon alone in her garden.)
• "Since her family left, she's been feeling very lonely" (She is unhappy to be without her family.) Happy learning!