King Lear

American  

[leer] / lɪər /

noun

1. a tragedy (1606) by Shakespeare.

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King Lear Cultural  

1. A tragedy by William Shakespeare about an old king who unwisely hands his kingdom over to two of his daughters. The daughters, who had flattered Lear while he was in power, turn on him; their actions reduce him to poverty and eventually to madness. His youngest daughter, Cordelia, whom he had at first spurned, remains faithful to him.

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Example Sentences

The English actor was also known for his collaboration with Dame Judi Dench and her husband, Michael Williams, and they starred in several stage productions together, including King Lear.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

King Lear mournfully wonders, “Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts?”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026

Young Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is burdened with self-reproach, while old King Lear suffers from narcissism, vanity and madness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

The actor also played the doomed warlord who divides his kingdom between his sons in "Ran", Kurosawa's 1985 film based on the Shakespeare play "King Lear".

From Barron's • Nov. 11, 2025

While tentbound high on Everest, Mallory and his companions would read aloud to one another from Hamlet and King Lear.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer