bereft

American  

[bih-reft] / bɪˈrɛft /

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of bereave.

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adjective

1. deprived.

   They are bereft of their senses. He is bereft of all happiness.

bereft British  

/ bɪˈrɛft /

adjective

1. (usually foll by of) deprived; parted (from)

   bereft of hope

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Etymology

Origin of bereft

First recorded in 1525–35; be- + reft

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.

Example Sentences

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

"England just look like a team bereft of confidence at the minute," he told Rugby Union Weekly.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

Mo Goldman, an Arizona immigration attorney whose clients have often been bereft of their things, told Salon that not returning confiscated belongings has been a pattern in practice for a long time.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2026

He thinks the krona’s strength is attributable to the debasement trade as historically it’s been a volatile currency, bereft of safe-haven characteristics.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 22, 2025

Chima and Obiora used plastic ones while the rest of us had plain glass plates, bereft of dainty flowers or silver lines.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie