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.
Just two years ago, Naomi Osaka was struggling to understand why a sport that was "as simple as breathing to me" was leaving her bereft.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
But the salaries and benefits offered by BAE draw workers from other professions, leaving the town bereft of mechanics, driving instructors and nurses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 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
“If the European companies, European buyers suddenly decide to reorient themselves and guarantee us consistent and long-term cooperation, bereft of political overtones—please. We never refused, we’re ready to work with Europeans,“ he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
The blue girl’s ghost gathered itself and perched, bereft, upon the spearpoint-tip of the projecting finial, just an inch above her own still chest.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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.
