grieve
2 synonyms and 2 antonyms for grieve, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To feel deep sorrow, especially after a loss.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To feel deep sorrow, especially after a loss.
“She needed time alone to grieve after her mother passed.”
Opposites
2. verb
To cause someone sorrow or distress.
“It grieves me to see the old house fall into ruin.”
Opposites
How to use grieve
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grieve for someone
grieve a loss
it grieves me
Etymology
From Old French grever ("to burden"), from Latin gravāre — related to "grave" and "grief."
Full origin of grieve →Frequently asked questions
What does “grieve” mean?
The word “grieve” means to feel deep sorrow, especially after a loss. In plain terms, to feel or cause deep sadness, usually connected to loss.
How do you pronounce “grieve”?
“Grieve” is pronounced greev (/ɡɹiːv/ in IPA).
How do you use “grieve” in a sentence?
Here is “grieve” used in a sentence: “She needed time alone to grieve after her mother passed.”
What part of speech is “grieve”?
“Grieve” is a verb.
Where does the word “grieve” come from?
The word “grieve” comes from Latin. From Old French grever ("to burden"), from Latin gravāre — related to "grave" and "grief.".
Is “grieve” a common word?
“Grieve” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “grieve” have?
“Grieve” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to feel deep sorrow, especially after a loss.
