bereave

[bih-reev]

verb (used with object)

bereaved, bereft, bereaving. 

1. to deprive and make desolate, especially by death (usually followed byof ).

   Illness bereaved them of their mother.

2. to deprive ruthlessly or by force (usually followed byof ).

   The war bereaved them of their home.

3. Obsolete.,  to take away by violence.

bereave

/ bɪˈriːv /

verb

1. (usually foll by of) to deprive (of) something or someone valued, esp through death

2. obsolete,  to remove by force

Other Word Forms

• bereavement noun
• bereaver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bereave¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English bereven, Old English berēafian; cognate with Dutch berooven, German berauben, Gothic biraubōn; equivalent to be- + reave ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bereave¹

Old English bereafian ; see _reave ¹

Example Sentences

Existing fast-track routes for victims of domestic abuse, bereaved partners and resettled refugees will remain.

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A total of 31 witnesses from Wales appeared including politicians, civil servants, public health experts and representatives of bereaved families.

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Groups representing thousands of bereaved families want individuals working in government at the time to be held to account for any pandemic failings.

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Nicholas Bowen KC, representing the bereaved families, told him: "They have complete disdain for your excuses and the manner in which you have answered questions."

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Mr Green said he felt the trust was more concerned with protecting its reputation than with bereaved families, and suggested there was a "culture of arrogance".

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Related Words

• dispossess 

When To Use

What does bereave mean?

To bereave means to take away and leave devastated. Death bereaves us of our loved ones.Bereave can also mean to deprive by force, as in War has bereaved them of their homes. Those who are devastated by the loss of loved ones can be described as bereaved or bereft. These words can also apply to those who have suffered other serious losses.Bereave is most often used in the context of death. The noun form of bereave is bereavement, referring to a period of mourning or or state of intense grief, especially following the death of a loved one. Bereavement can also be used more generally to mean the state of having lost something very dear.Example: Violence has bereaved us of yet another young person.