Lament
/ləˈmɛnt/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo express sorrow, regret, or grief for something.
/ləˈmɛnt/
To express passionate grief or sorrow; to mourn.
The community lamented the passing of their beloved teacher.
💡 Simply: Imagine you dropped your ice cream. To lament is like saying, 'Oh no! My ice cream! I'm so sad I lost it!' It's like a big, dramatic sigh about something you're upset about.
👶 For kids: When you are really, really sad about something, you can lament it, like crying because you lost your favorite toy.
More Examples
He lamented his decision to sell the shares just before their value increased.
We lamented the damage caused by the storm.
How It's Used
"The poet lamented the loss of his beloved."
"She lamented her missed opportunities."
An expression of grief or sorrow; a cry of pain or sorrow.
/ləˈmɛnt/
A passionate expression of grief or sorrow; a lamentation.
Her voice cracked with a lament as she spoke of her loss.
💡 Simply: A lament is like a sad song or poem. Imagine singing a very, very sad song about something that made you feel very, very unhappy.
👶 For kids: When you are really, really sad, and you say or sing how you are feeling, that's a lament.
More Examples
The film was filled with laments about lost love.
The music was a mournful lament for the departed.
How It's Used
"The poem was a lament for the fallen soldiers."
"The congregation offered a lament during the service."
Idioms & expressions
wail and lament
To express great sorrow and grief; to cry and complain loudly.
"The family wailed and lamented at the funeral, overwhelmed with grief."
From Latin *lamentum* meaning 'a weeping, wailing, lamentation'.
The word 'lament' has been used in English since the 13th century, originating in religious and literary contexts to express sorrow and loss.
Memory tip
Think of a lament *(lemon tent)* – feeling sad about a lost tent.
Word Origin
"to weep, wail"