lament
luh-MEHNT
Lament (verb) means to express deep sorrow or regret over something. Example: “She lamented the loss of her childhood home.”
verb
1
To express deep sorrow or regret over something.
"She lamented the loss of her childhood home."
"Critics lamented the closure of the local library."
noun
1
An expression of grief or regret, sometimes in the form of a song or poem.
"The folk singer performed a lament for miners lost in the disaster."
How to use lament
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo express sadness or regret about something, often publicly or in writing — or a piece of writing/music that does this.
Common pairings
lament the loss of
lament that
a lament for
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Word forms
- Plural
- laments
- Third person singular
- laments
- Past tense
- lamented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ the loss of her childhood home.
Etymology
A back-formation from "lamentation," or borrowed from Middle French lamenter and Latin lamentor, "to wail or weep."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
cheer up
gladden
Related words
Rhymes for lament
ornament
ligament
armament
filament
sacrament
testament
firmament
tournament
parliament
temperament
predicament
disarmament
See all rhymes for lament →
Frequently asked questions
What does “lament” mean?
The word “lament” means to express deep sorrow or regret over something. In plain terms, to express sadness or regret about something, often publicly or in writing — or a piece of writing/music that does this.
How do you pronounce “lament”?
“Lament” is pronounced luh-MEHNT (/ləˈmɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “lament” in a sentence?
Here is “lament” used in a sentence: “She lamented the loss of her childhood home.”
What is another word for “lament”?
Words with a similar meaning to “lament” include afterthink, becry, begrieve, bemoan, bemourn and bewail.
What is the opposite of “lament”?
The opposite of “lament” — its antonyms — are cheer up and gladden.
What part of speech is “lament”?
Depending on how it is used, “lament” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “lament” come from?
The word “lament” comes from Latin. A back-formation from "lamentation," or borrowed from Middle French lamenter and Latin lamentor, "to wail or weep.".
Is “lament” a common word?
“Lament” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
