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Bereave: meaning, definitions and examples

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bereave

 

[ bɪˈriːv ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

grief

Deprive someone of a loved one through a profound absence, especially due to death.

Synonyms

deprive, dispossess, rob

Examples of usage

  • She was bereaved of her husband in a tragic car accident.
  • The war bereaved many families of their sons and daughters.
  • Being bereaved of a child is one of the most painful experiences a parent can go through.

Translations

Translations of the word "bereave" in other languages:

🇵🇹 privar

🇮🇳 वंचित करना

🇩🇪 berauben

🇮🇩 kehilangan

🇺🇦 позбавляти

🇵🇱 pozbawić

🇯🇵 失わせる (ushinawaseru)

🇫🇷 priver de

🇪🇸 privar

🇹🇷 mahrum bırakmak

🇰🇷 빼앗다 (ppaeatta)

🇸🇦 حرم (haram)

🇨🇿 zbavit

🇸🇰 zbaviť

🇨🇳 使失去 (shǐ shīqù)

🇸🇮 oropati

🇮🇸 svipta

🇰🇿 айыру

🇬🇪 მოკლება (mokleba)

🇦🇿 məhrum etmək

🇲🇽 privar

Etymology

The word 'bereave' originated from the Old English word 'bereafian', meaning 'to deprive of, take away, seize, rob'. Over time, its meaning evolved to specifically refer to depriving someone of a loved one, especially through death. The emotional weight of the word reflects the deep sense of loss and sorrow experienced when someone is bereaved.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,129, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.