Words / B2

GREEV/ɡriːv/

To grieve is to feel great sadness, especially after a death: grieve for / over; a grieving family. Mourn is a close twin, often more public or ritual; sadness is milder. Families grieve in the disaster inquiry; do not invent a private quote. Mix-up: grievance (a complaint, already related); grease. Do not write grieve for mild disappointment about a mark.

Meaning

To feel great sadness, especially after a death (grieve for / over).

Examples

• “Families grieve in the disaster inquiry; do not invent a private quote.”
• “The village grieved over the pit disaster, which is the public-mourning sense.”

Good to know

grieve for / over; a grieving family. Close: mourn. Noun: grief. Trap: grievance. News, literature, and RS. Deep sadness after loss, not a sulk about homework.

Near in meaning

mourn, lament

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