lament
gb/ləmˈɛnt/ us/ləmˈɛnt/
C1
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
express deep sorrow or grief
to say or show that you are very sad, especially because someone died or you lost something important
Usage pattern:
to lament [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "lament" in very casual situations where a lighter word like "be sad about" or "be upset about" sounds more natural. "Lament" usually suggests strong, serious sadness, often about death or a major loss, and fits best in formal speech, writing, or emotional descriptions, not in everyday minor complaints.
Synonyms
mourn (More common in everyday speech for reacting to death or loss; slightly less formal and literary than "lament".)
Antonyms
rejoice (Focuses on openly showing great happiness, which contrasts with expressing deep sadness.)
Collocations
lament the loss of
|lament the death of
|widely lamented
|deeply lamented
|publicly lament
|a nation laments
Themes
emotions
|death
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- Families gathered to lament the loss of loved ones after the disaster.
- Fans around the world lamented the death of the legendary singer.
- The community still laments the closing of the old school that had stood there for a century.
- In her letter, she lamented the loss of a friendship that had once meant everything to her.
Learner examples
- People came together to lament the death of the leader.
- He still laments the loss of his dog.
- The city laments the closing of the hospital.
- She quietly lamented the loss of her childhood home.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
complain or regret about situation
to say that you are not happy about a situation and wish it were different, in a serious or formal way
Usage pattern:
to lament [the fact that] [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners may use "lament" like casual verbs such as "complain" in everyday speech. However, "lament" sounds formal and is more common in news, essays, and serious discussion. It is also often followed by "the fact that" or a noun phrase, not by an object + infinitive (say *"lament people to do"* is incorrect).
Synonyms
regret (More neutral and common; can be about personal feelings, while "lament" often sounds more formal or public and can include criticism.)
Antonyms
welcome (Means to be pleased about or support a situation, the opposite of expressing disappointment or disapproval.)
Collocations
lament the fact that
|lament a decision
|lament the decline of
|lament the lack of
|critics lament
|officials lament
Themes
emotions
|society
|politics
|communication
Examples
- Many commentators lament the decline of local journalism.
- Parents have long lamented the fact that childcare is so expensive.
- Environmental groups lamented the government’s decision to weaken the new regulations.
- Teachers lament the lack of funding for arts programs in schools.
Learner examples
- Experts lament the rise in food prices.
- Students lament the fact that the library closes early.
- Some people lament the loss of green spaces in the city.
- The mayor lamented the low number of volunteers.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
spoken or written expression of sorrow
words, often in speech or writing, that show strong sadness or regret
Usage pattern:
a lament for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "lament" as a noun means only a song or poem, but it can also be any strong, often serious, expression of sadness or regret in speech, writing, or conversation.
Synonyms
complaint (More common and broader; often about minor problems, while "lament" suggests stronger, more emotional or serious sadness or regret.)
Antonyms
celebration (A joyful expression, often spoken or written, which contrasts with a sad or regretful expression.)
Collocations
a bitter lament
|a heartfelt lament
|a passionate lament
|a lament for the past
|turn into a lament
|a familiar lament
Themes
emotions
|communication
Examples
- Her speech was a moving lament for the victims of the war.
- The article reads like a lament for a city that no longer exists.
- What began as a simple report soon became a bitter lament about political corruption.
Learner examples
- His letter was a long lament about his hard life.
- The book is a lament for lost traditions.
- Her talk turned into a lament for the old days.
- The poem is a sad lament for her first love.
Noun
literary
C1
entity
4
song or poem of mourning
a sad song, poem, or piece of music that shows strong sorrow, usually for someone who has died
Usage pattern:
a lament for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this noun is often limited to artistic works like songs and poems; using it for any sad song can sound odd if the song is not clearly about loss or death.
Synonyms
dirge (A formal or old-fashioned word mainly for a slow, sad song for the dead; often more strictly tied to funerals than "lament.")
Antonyms
anthem (A strong, often uplifting song of praise or pride, which contrasts with a sad song of mourning.)
Collocations
a funeral lament
|a traditional lament
|a haunting lament
|a Celtic lament
|sing a lament
|play a lament
Themes
emotions
|art
|death
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The lone piper played a mournful lament as the coffin was carried past.
- The film opens with a traditional lament sung in a low, trembling voice.
- Her latest composition is a haunting lament for the victims of the earthquake.
Learner examples
- They sang a slow lament at the funeral.
- The band played a soft lament for the dead soldiers.
- This old song is a famous Scottish lament.
- The movie begins with a sad violin lament.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lament
IPA
GB/ləmˈɛnt/
US/ləmˈɛnt/
Syllables & stress
lament (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: lament
- Plural: laments
Verb
- Base: lament
- 3rd Person Singular: laments
- Present Participle: lamenting
- Past: lamented
Word family
Forms
laments
noun
lamenting
verb
lamented
verb
Core family
lamentable
adjective C1
Related words
lamentably
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unlamented
adjective
Advanced or less common
lamentation
noun C1
Expressions
lament the fact that
1/ləmˈɛnt ðə fˈækt ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
formal
express regret that something is true
to say in a serious way that you are unhappy about something that is true or has happened
Examples
- Many parents lament the fact that they have so little time with their children.
- Critics lament the fact that public spaces are disappearing from the city.
lament the loss of
1/ləmˈɛnt ðə lˈɔs əv/
fixed phrase
formal
express sorrow about a loss
to say or show strong sadness because someone or something has been lost
Examples
- People around the world lament the loss of innocent lives in the conflict.
- Residents continue to lament the loss of the old market that was the heart of the neighborhood.