grieve
greev
Grieve (verb) means to feel deep sorrow, especially after a loss. Example: “She needed time alone to grieve after her mother passed.”
verb
1
To feel deep sorrow, especially after a loss.
"She needed time alone to grieve after her mother passed."
"He is still grieving the end of his marriage."
2
To cause someone sorrow or distress.
"It grieves me to see the old house fall into ruin."
How to use grieve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo feel or cause deep sadness, usually connected to loss.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
grieve for someone
grieve a loss
it grieves me
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Word forms
- Plural
- grieves
- Third person singular
- grieves
- Past tense
- grieved
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She needed time alone to _____ after her mother passed.
Etymology
From Old French grever ("to burden"), from Latin gravāre — related to "grave" and "grief."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for grieve
See all rhymes for 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.
