English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

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 notes

In plain EnglishTo feel or cause deep sadness, usually connected to loss.

Common pairings
grieve for someone grieve a loss it grieves me

Word forms

grieved past tense, grieves plural, Grieves plural, grieves singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “grieve” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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."

Origin: Latin

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.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial