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Showing results for bereaved. Search instead for Unreaved.
Synonyms

bereaved

American  
[bih-reevd] / bɪˈrivd /

adjective

  1. (of a person) greatly saddened at being deprived by death of a loved one.

noun

  1. Usually the bereaved a bereaved person or persons.

    to extend condolences to the bereaved.
bereaved British  
/ bɪˈriːvd /

adjective

  1. having been deprived of something or someone valued, esp through death

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

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.

So what happened to the money, paid by bereaved families?

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

"Just do it now," said bereaved British mum Ellen Roome recently.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

The government has appointed a new chief executive and promised bereaved families compensation.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 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

Two days later, halfway through the service, it seemed as though Ruth was going to be the lone member of the bereaved family there.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

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.