definitions

grieve

[ greev ]
/ griv /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR grieve ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), grieved, griev·ing.

to feel grief or great sorrow: She has grieved over his death for nearly three years.

verb (used with object), grieved, griev·ing.

to distress mentally; cause to feel grief or sorrow: It grieves me to see you so unhappy.
Archaic. to oppress or wrong.

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RELATED WORDS

regret, lament, cry, ache, weep, wail, agonize, sadden, bewail, sorrow, bear, rue, bemoan, keen, endure, suffer, deplore, complain, pain, afflict

Nearby words

grierson, grieshoch, grievance, grievance committee, grievant, grieve, grieve, christopher murray, grievedly, griever, grievous, grievous bodily harm

Origin of grieve

1175–1225; Middle English greven, grieven < Old French grever < Latin gravāre to burden, derivative of gravis heavy, grave2
SYNONYMS FOR grieve
1 lament, weep, bewail, bemoan; suffer. 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.
2 sadden, pain.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR grieve ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms
Can be confusedgreave grieve
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for grieved

British Dictionary definitions for grieved (1 of 2)

grieve

1
/ (ɡriːv) /

verb

to feel or cause to feel great sorrow or distress, esp at the death of someone
(tr) obsolete to inflict injury, hardship, or sorrow on
Derived Formsgriever, noungrieving, noun, adjectivegrievingly, adverb

Word Origin for grieve

C13: from Old French grever, from Latin gravāre to burden, from gravis heavy

British Dictionary definitions for grieved (2 of 2)

grieve

2
/ (ɡriːv) /

noun

Scot a farm manager or overseer

Word Origin for grieve

C15: from Old English (Northumbrian) græfa reeve
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

Word Origin and History for grieved

grieve

v.

early 13c., "cause pain," from tonic stem of Old French grever "to burden, oppress, aggravate" (see grief). Meaning "be very sad, lament" is from c.1300. Related: Grieved; grieving.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper