long-lost relative
Rediscovered family member
A long-lost relative is a family member you haven't seen or heard from in many years, or one whose existence you only recently discovered.
The phrase suggests dramatic reunion or unexpected connection: She found a long-lost relative through a DNA testing service.
Long-lost applies to other things separated by time—long-lost friends, long-lost treasures—but relatives remain the most common pairing.
- family reunionGathering of relatives
- reunionGathering after separation
- estrangedSeparated by emotional distance
- familyRelated people together
- family treeChart of ancestors
discovered · inheritance · genealogy · DNA · ancestor · distant cousin · prodigal · doorstep · knock on the door · resemblance · birthright · adopted · secret · letter · photograph · birth certificate · stranger · embrace
- plot twistsplot twist, twist ending, surprise ending, unexpected turn, final reveal
- reunionsreunion, family reunion, class reunion, alumni, reconciliation
- soap operassoap opera, telenovela, melodrama, cliffhanger, amnesia
- TV drama tropesto be continued, plot twist, suspense, season finale, cliffhanger
long-lost relativeimmediate family
Closest relatives by blood
nearest and dearest · inner circle · next of kin · confidant
long-lost relativeimmediate family
Closest relatives by blood
nuclear family · parent · sibling · spouse · child
long, lost, relative, longer, longest, longing, longingly, length, lengthen