lament

American  

[luh-ment] / ləˈmɛnt /

verb (used with object)

laments, present (3rd person singular) lamented, past participle, past lamenting present participle

1. to feel or express sorrow or regret for.

   to lament his absence.

   Synonyms:

   deplore, bemoan, bewail

2. to mourn for or over.

   Synonyms:

   deplore, bemoan, bewail

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verb (used without object)

laments, present (3rd person singular) lamented, past participle, past lamenting present participle

1. to feel, show, or express grief, sorrow, or regret.

   Synonyms:

   weep, grieve

2. to mourn deeply.

   Synonyms:

   weep, grieve

noun

1. an expression of grief or sorrow.

   Synonyms:

   moan, lamentation

2. a formal expression of sorrow or mourning, especially in verse or song; an elegy or dirge.

   Synonyms:

   threnody, monody

lament British  

/ ləˈmɛnt /

verb

1. to feel or express sorrow, remorse, or regret (for or over)

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noun

1. an expression of sorrow

2. a poem or song in which a death is lamented

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lamentingly
  adverb
• lamenter
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has lamented
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have lamented
  perfect
• have been lamenting
  perfect progressive
• am lamenting
  progressive 1st person singular
• lamenting
  participle
• has been lamenting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is lamenting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are lamenting
  progressive
• laments
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had lamented
  perfect
• had been lamenting
  perfect progressive
• was lamenting
  progressive singular
• were lamenting
  progressive plural
• lamented
  participle
• lamented
  simple

Future

• will lament
  simple
• will have lamented
  perfect
• will have been lamenting
  perfect progressive
• will be lamenting
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of lament

First recorded in 1520–30; (noun) from Latin lāmentum “plaint”; (verb) from Latin lāmentārī, derivative of lāmentum

Explanation

If you are really upset or sorry about something, you might lament it. A lament is full of regret and grief. If you lament something, then you feel sorry about it. You could lament a mistake you made, or you could lament a horrible thing that happened to a friend. Also, a lament is an expression of grief. So if you keep saying how sorry you are about something, someone could say, "Enough of your laments!" There's also an old literary form called "a lament," which expresses feelings of loss in a long dramatic poem.

Example Sentences

Lament over damage to Switzerland’s image as a stable, reliable banking center.

From Washington Times • Mar. 22, 2023

Manic Street Preachers, who collaborated with Lanegan on their latest album The Ultra Vivid Lament, tweeted that they were "devastated" by the news, describing him as a "huge talent on so many levels".

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2022

Jackson says he never felt worthy of riding a horse like Dido's Lament.

From Salon • Dec. 29, 2021

Snell could start Sunday against Philadelphia while Lament is eyeing a return after the All-Star break.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 2, 2021

Some of his poems, particularly his "Visit to the Country in Autumn," "The Braes of Yarrow," "The Lament of Nature," and other odes and hymns, are beautiful and finished productions.

From The Genius of Scotland or Sketches of Scottish Scenery, Literature and Religion by Turnbull, Robert

Related Words

• bemoan
• deplore
• regret