- past participle of bereave.
bereft
Americanverb
adjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of bereft
Explanation
So, they took the thing you most loved, and you're never going to get it back. You've gone beyond just plain grief-stricken — you're bereft. The way in which bereft differs just from plain mournful or grief-stricken is in its sense of deprivation or lack. It can be used that way too, for example when you're bereft of words. It's the past tense of bereave, following the same pattern as leave and left. When you see your bereft relatives at a funeral, it's very sad, but if your friend says that their cookie is bereft of chocolate chips, you know they are using exaggerated language to be a little funny.
Vocabulary lists containing bereft
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 8–13
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Esperanza Rising
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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.
But warmer oceans are also often bereft of the high-energy prey these juvenile salmon need for rapid growth when they reach the saltwater.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
It might be harsh to say England missed Stokes' captaincy, because the short-ball plan is a favourite of his, but the hosts certainly looked bereft of leaders, discipline and inspiration.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
The trend underscores a Wild West internet landscape that is largely bereft of guardrails as false narratives erode digital trust.
From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026
When 16-year-old Felix Platter set out from his home in Basel, Switzerland, to attend medical school in Montpellier, France, his mother was bereft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
I will not bow to such a one, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship and dignity.’
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
