bereave

bereave Definition

be·reave (bē rēv′, bi-)

transitive verb -·reaved′ or -·reft′-reft′, -·reav′·ing

to deprive or rob; dispossess: now usually in the pp. bereft she was bereft of hope or happiness
to leave in a sad or lonely state, as by loss or death
Obsolete to take away by force

Etymology: ME bireven < OE bereafian, to deprive, rob < be-, be- + reafian, akin to Ger rauben: see reave

bereave Related Forms

be·reave′·ment noun

bereave Usage Examples

Object

relative: Offering support to bereaved relatives may also be involved.
parent: Down's Heart Group has bereaved parents who will be happy to talk with you.
family: Our Loving Tribute helping bereaved families to grieve Does your church conduct many funerals?
widow: The end result is three destitute, doubly bereaved, widows.
sibling: There is now an established network for bereaved siblings.
mother: Vicki Stone, the bereaved mother of a teenage road crash victim.

Subject

suicide: Beyond the Rough Rock: Offering a specialist group for families bereaved by suicide.
death: This day is exclusively devoted to those bereaved by a young sudden cardiac death.
crash: RoadPeace provides vital help and support to those who have been injured or bereaved by a road crash.

Preposition: as

result: The practice of mourning, both public and private, provided essential consolation for those bereaved as a result of the Great War.

Preposition: through

suicide: When sudden death occurs Cruse has recently extended its remit to support those bereaved through suicide.

Modifying Another Word

recently: For example, at any given time, many viewers will be recently bereaved.
newly: We can also offer help and support through: Link Meetings - a monthly support group for the newly bereaved.

Used with why or when

who: Jo's Letter: Looking for those bereaved who stand for justice not revenge.
when: The characters were so vivid, so unforgettable, so touchingly human, that I felt quite bereaved when I came to the end.

Present participle complement

follow: The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland expresses deepest sympathy to those who have been bereaved following the terrorist attack in Omagh.

Preposition: in

crash: Please pray that: Those who were bereaved in the plane crash of 29 September will be comforted.

Preposition: by

suicide: Beyond the Rough Rock: Offering a specialist group for families bereaved by suicide.
death: This day is exclusively devoted to those bereaved by a young sudden cardiac death.
crash: RoadPeace provides vital help and support to those who have been injured or bereaved by a road crash.

Browse dictionary entries near bereave