Standard Lemma guide

bereaved

adj · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /bɪˈɹiːvd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: B ER0 IY1 V D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having suffered the death of a loved one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • bereaved relatives

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: distraught, griefful, grief-struck, heartsore, mournful, agonised/agonized, tormented, tortured

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

simple past and past participle of bereave

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bereft

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

sorrowful through loss or deprivation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • bereft of hope

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bereft, grief-stricken, grieving, mourning(a), sorrowing(a)

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a person who has suffered the death of someone they loved

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the bereaved do not always need to be taken care of

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bereaved person

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.