bereaved
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- unbereaved adjective
Etymology
Origin of bereaved
First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English bireved, late Old English birēafod (past participle); bereave, -ed 2
Explanation
Bereaved is an adjective describing people in deep sorrow at the loss of a loved one. For some, being bereaved helps them leave the sadness or release themselves from it by experiencing it for awhile. From the Old English berēafian, meaning "deprive of," bereaved describes the loss you feel when someone you love dies. You are suddenly deprived of the person's presence, and missing and mourning leads to being bereaved. Losing a pet causes similar feelings, and you can be bereaved when a person goes away but is still alive. Loss and separation even in life are still reason to be bereaved over the absence. If someone leaves and you miss them deeply, you may be bereaved.
Vocabulary lists containing bereaved
Born a Crime
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Cry Me A River: Synonyms for "Sad"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While many of the facts had been aired in court, we heard far more detailed accounts from witnesses, surviving victims and their families and the bereaved parents.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
She was challenged on that by Tim Moloney KC, who is representing the bereaved families.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne was at Hillsborough in 1989 and has been in close, regular touch with bereaved families.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
The inquiry was told the bereaved families had also raised concerns about when they were notified of the deaths of Barnaby, Grace and Ian.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
Noise and activity are the refuges of the bereaved and the guilty.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
