grief
greef
Grief (noun) means Deep sorrow, especially caused by loss or bereavement. Example: “Months later, she still felt waves of grief whenever she heard that song.”
noun
1
Deep sorrow, especially caused by loss or bereavement.
"Months later, she still felt waves of grief whenever she heard that song."
"The whole town shared in her grief after the accident."
"He never fully worked through his grief over his father's death."
2
A source of trouble or annoyance (informal).
"My little brother gives our parents nothing but grief at bedtime."
"The old car has caused us a lot of grief this winter."
"His noisy neighbors gave him nothing but grief."
How to use grief
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeep sadness over a loss, or informally, hassle and trouble someone causes you.
Common pairings
overcome with grief
give someone grief
grief counseling
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Word forms
- Plural
- griefs, grieves
- Third person singular
- griefs
- Past tense
- griefed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Months later, she still felt waves of _____ whenever she heard that song.
Etymology
From Old French grief ("heavy, painful"), from Latin gravis ("heavy") — the same root as "grave" and "gravity."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for grief
See all rhymes for grief →Frequently asked questions
What does “grief” mean?
The word “grief” means deep sorrow, especially caused by loss or bereavement. In plain terms, deep sadness over a loss, or informally, hassle and trouble someone causes you.
How do you pronounce “grief”?
“Grief” is pronounced greef (/ɡɹiːf/ in IPA).
How do you use “grief” in a sentence?
Here is “grief” used in a sentence: “The whole town shared in her grief after the accident.”
What part of speech is “grief”?
“Grief” is a noun.
Where does the word “grief” come from?
The word “grief” comes from Latin. From Old French grief ("heavy, painful"), from Latin gravis ("heavy") — the same root as "grave" and "gravity.".
Is “grief” a common word?
“Grief” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “grief” have?
“Grief” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: deep sorrow, especially caused by loss or bereavement.
What is the difference between grief and mourning?
Grief is the deep sorrow itself, especially the inner emotional pain caused by loss or bereavement. Mourning is the outward expression of that sorrow: the customs, behaviour, and period of time in which a loss is acknowledged. You feel grief; you observe or go through mourning.
What is the difference between grief and sorrow?
Sorrow is a general word for sadness of any depth or cause. Grief is stronger and more specific: it means deep sorrow, and it is most often used about the pain that follows a death or serious loss. All grief is sorrow, but not all sorrow rises to the level of grief.
Is grief only used about death?
No. Grief most often refers to the deep sorrow caused by bereavement, but it can follow any serious loss, such as the end of a relationship, a job, a home, or health. Informally, grief can also simply mean trouble or annoyance, as in "stop giving me grief".
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