Grief

/ɡriːf/

nounBeginnerCommonBusiness

Definitions

1

Intense sorrow, especially caused by the death of someone or a significant loss.

/ɡriːf/

nounnegativeBeginner
Business

Deep sorrow, especially caused by loss.

She was overcome with grief after her father's passing.

💡 Simply: Grief is like feeling super, super sad because something really important is gone. Imagine losing your favorite toy – that's a bit like grief.

👶 For kids: Grief means feeling very, very sad because something you loved is gone.

More Examples

2

The community shared a sense of grief following the tragedy.

3

Time can often help to lessen the effects of grief.

How It's Used

General

"The death of her beloved dog caused her great grief."

Psychology

"The therapists specialized in helping people cope with grief and loss."

Literary

"The poem captured the raw grief of a parent losing a child."

Idioms & expressions

In grief

Experiencing sorrow.

"She was lost in grief after the accident."

Grief counseling

Professional support to help someone deal with grief.

"After his wife's passing, he sought grief counseling."

From Old French *gref*, *grief* (noun), from Latin *gravis* 'heavy, grievous'. The sense of sorrow or distress dates from the late 13th century.

Historically, grief was often personified, depicted as a physical force or a personified figure causing suffering.

Memory tip

Think of a 'chief' who has lost his entire village - he is filled with grief.

greefgreif

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written