grieve

American  

[greev] / griv /

verb (used without object)

grieved, grieving

1. to feel grief or great sorrow.

   She has grieved over his death for nearly three years.

   Synonyms:

   suffer, bemoan, bewail, weep, lament

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verb (used with object)

grieved, grieving

1. to distress mentally; cause to feel grief or sorrow.

   It grieves me to see you so unhappy.

   Synonyms:

   pain, sadden

2. Archaic. to oppress or wrong.

grieve ¹ British  

/ ɡriːv /

verb

1. to feel or cause to feel great sorrow or distress, esp at the death of someone

2. obsolete (tr) to inflict injury, hardship, or sorrow on

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grieve ² British  

/ ɡriːv /

noun

1. a farm manager or overseer

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Usage

What does grieve mean? To grieve is to feel or express intense grief—mental or emotional suffering or distress caused by loss or regret. Grieve often means the same thing as mourn. It’s especially used in the context of someone who is mourning the death of a loved one. However, the word can also be used in the context of other situations involving loss or regret, such as the end of a relationship or the loss of a job. Less commonly, grieve can mean to cause someone to feel grief, as in It grieves me to see you so sad. Grieve should not be confused with bereave, which means to take away and leave devastated. Those who are grieving are those who have been bereaved. Example: After losing someone close, it’s important to take the time to grieve.

Related Words

Grieve, mourn imply showing suffering caused by sorrow. Grieve is the stronger word, implying deep mental suffering often endured alone and in silence but revealed by one's aspect: to grieve over the loss (or death ) of a friend. Mourn usually refers to manifesting sorrow outwardly, either with or without sincerity: to mourn publicly and wear black.

Other Word Forms

• grievedly
  adverb
• griever
  noun
• grieving
  noun
• grievingly
  adverb
• nongrieved
  adjective
• nongrieving
  adjective
• overgrieve
  verb
• ungrieved
  adjective
• ungrieving
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of grieve

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English greven, grieven, from Old French grever, from Latin gravāre “to burden,” verb derivative of gravis “heavy”; see grave ²

Explanation

To grieve is to feel sorrow over something, especially people who have died. The most common use of grieve has to do with death: usually there are grieving family members and grieving friends, feeling sadness over the loss of a loved one. You can also grieve over a pet who died, a job you didn't get, or a favorite pair of shoes that were ruined. Usually there's some kind of loss involved, but as long as you feel extremely sad about something that's happened, you're grieving.

Example Sentences

Commander Grieve appealed for anyone with information to contact police, as officers and volunteers comb nearby bush and desert for Sharon.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

He and his editor, Tim Grieve, joined a video call with about 15 disgruntled Post reporters in mid-February, trading thoughts about filling a void after the Post gutted its local-news and sports desks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

In recent weeks, he and Grieve have gone on a hiring spree for more-established journalists from the Post, Politico and other outlets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Grieve said the UK had evidence the "Americans were behaving in a way that should have given us cause for real concern."

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

Awake, Grieve not, for Vallence kneels beside thee— Mosada.Vallence,

From Mosada A dramatic poem by Yeats, W. B. (William Butler)

Related Words

• ache
• cry
• lament
• regret
• wail
• weep