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

The Crown Office said it had undertaken "significant reforms" since Mr Marshall's case and that bereaved families "can expect investigations to be pursued with the vigour and expertise they deserve".

From BBC

At the time the watchdog said it had taken the decision to reopen the investigation following representations by the bereaved families.

From BBC

“Inadequate staffing at SSA directly harms the retirees, people with disabilities, and bereaved families the agency is responsible for serving,” Romig and O’Connor report.

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier, Sir Adrian Fulford, chairman of the inquiry, promised to do everything "humanly possible" to answer the questions of bereaved families and victims.

From BBC

The verdicts were marked with singing outside the coroner's court, as bereaved families and survivors celebrated a hard-fought moment.

From BBC

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.