grieve
gb/ɡɹˈiv/ us/ɡɹˈiv/
B2
English
~ 7100
gyászol, elszomorít, fájdalommal tölt el, sanyargat, elnyom
VERB
B2
1
gyászol
B2
Usage pattern:
to grieve for/over [someone/something]
After her father died, she grieved for months before she felt ready to return to work.
Miután meghalt az apja, hónapokig gyászolt, mielőtt úgy érezte, készen áll visszatérni a munkába.
They are still grieving the loss of their home in the fire.
Még mindig gyászolják az otthonuk elvesztését a tűzben.
He needed time alone to grieve over the end of the relationship.
The whole community gathered to grieve for the children who were killed in the accident.
Even years later, he quietly grieved the opportunities he had lost.
Learner examples
She is still grieving for her husband.
Még mindig gyászolja a férjét.
They grieved over the death of their dog.
Gyászolták a kutyájuk halálát.
He needs time to grieve after this big loss.
The family grieved together at the funeral.
Many people grieved for the victims of the war.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"grieve about"* instead of the more natural *"grieve for"* or *"grieve over"* (e.g. say "She grieved for her mother" rather than "She grieved about her mother"). They may also confuse the noun and the verb, saying *"He is grief"* instead of the correct "He is in grief" or "He is grieving."
Meaning
feel deep grief after loss
Collocations
still grieving
|deeply grieve
|grieve for the dead
|grieve a loss
|grieve in private
|grieve together
Synonyms
mourn (Often specifically used for feeling and showing sadness after a death; slightly more formal than "grieve".)
|
lament (Emphasizes expressing sadness in words or art; more literary than "grieve".)
Antonyms
rejoice (Means to feel or show great joy, which is the emotional opposite of grieving.)
Themes
emotions
|family
|health
|daily life
|relationships
Definition
To feel very strong and deep sadness, especially when someone dies or when you lose something important.
To feel very deep and often long-lasting sadness, especially because someone has died or because of another serious loss.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to grieve [someone]
It grieves me to tell you that the project has been cancelled.
Fájdalommal tölt el, hogy közölnöm kell: a projektet törölték.
Their lack of concern for the environment deeply grieves her.
Mélyen elszomorítja, hogy nem törődnek a környezettel.
What grieves him most is that his friends did not trust him.
It greatly grieved the town that the historic church was demolished.
Her words grieved him more than she realized.
Learner examples
It grieves me to see so much hate.
Elszomorít, hogy ennyi gyűlöletet látok.
The news of the accident grieved the whole family.
A baleset híre az egész családot mélyen elszomorította.
His rude behavior grieved his parents.
It grieves her that they do not listen.
The decision grieved many people in the city.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this formal pattern in everyday speech, where simpler phrases like "It makes me sad" or "It upsets me" are more natural. Also, do not say *"grieve someone about"*; instead say "It grieves me that..." or "His actions grieved his parents."
Meaning
cause someone deep sadness
Collocations
it grieves me to say
|deeply grieve someone
|grieve the family
|grieve the community
|grieve someone greatly
Synonyms
distress (Focuses on causing mental pain or anxiety; slightly more general and common than this formal use of "grieve.")
|
sadden (Means to make someone sad; usually sounds a little less strong and less formal than "grieve" in this sense.)
Antonyms
comfort (Means to make someone feel less sad, which is the opposite of causing them deep sadness.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|communication
Definition
To make someone feel very sad or troubled.
To make someone feel very sad, upset, or distressed, especially in a serious or formal context.
VERB
C2
ARCHAIC
3
Usage pattern:
to grieve [someone]
The king was warned not to grieve his people with heavy taxes.
Figyelmeztették a királyt, hogy ne sanyargassa népét súlyos adókkal.
He vowed that no widow or orphan would be grieved in his lands.
Megfogadta, hogy földjein egyetlen özvegyet vagy árvát sem fognak sanyargatni.
Merchants complained that they were sorely grieved by unjust laws.
Learner examples
In the old story, the rich man grieved the poor.
A régi történetben a gazdag ember sanyargatta a szegényeket.
The law said that no stranger should be grieved in that country.
A törvény kimondta, hogy abban az országban egyetlen idegent sem szabad sanyargatni.
The letter asked the lord not to grieve his workers.
They said the people were grieved by bad rulers.
This old use of "grieve" means to hurt or oppress someone.
Meaning
harm or oppress someone (archaic)
Collocations
grieve the poor
|grieve the innocent
|grieve a man with taxes
Synonyms
oppress (Focuses on cruel or unfair use of power; common in modern English, while this sense of "grieve" is old-fashioned.)
Antonyms
protect (Means to keep someone safe from harm, the opposite of harming or troubling them.)
Themes
law
|history
|relationships
Definition
To hurt or trouble someone by treating them badly; this use is old and not common today.
To harm, oppress, or trouble someone, especially by treating them unfairly or harshly. This meaning is now rare and mainly found in older texts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grieve
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈiv/
US/ɡɹˈiv/
Syllables & stress
grieve (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (grieve)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: grieve
- 3rd Person Singular: grieves
- Present Participle: grieving
- Past: grieved
Word family
Expressions
grieve for [someone]
1/ɡɹˈiv fɚ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
phrasal verb
feel deep sorrow for someone
To feel very strong sadness because a person has died or has been lost.
Examples
- She is still grieving for her mother, who passed away last year.
- Millions of fans are grieving for the singer after his sudden death.
- He needed time alone to grieve for his lost friend.
grieve over [something]
1/ɡɹˈiv ˈoʊvɚ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
feel deep sadness about something
To feel very strong sadness because something bad has happened or because of a serious loss.
Examples
- She grieved over the end of the relationship for a long time.
- Many citizens are grieving over the destruction caused by the flood.
- He still grieves over mistakes he made when he was young.
grieve the loss of [someone/something]
1/ɡɹˈiv ðə lˈɔs əv sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
mourn the loss of someone/something
To feel very deep sadness because you have lost someone or something important to you.
Examples
- The town continues to grieve the loss of its historic library.
- She is grieving the loss of her job and her daily routine.
- They gathered to grieve the loss of their coach together.
it grieves me to [say/see/hear/etc.]
1/ˈɪt ɡɹˈivz mˈi tə sˈeɪsˈihˈɛɹəts ‖/
fixed phrase
formal
formally state something saddens you
A formal way to say that something makes you very sad or unhappy.
Examples
- It grieves me to say this, but we can no longer continue the project.
- It deeply grieves me to see so many people suffering.
- It grieves me to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful.