bereaved

1 of 2

adjective

be·​reaved bi-ˈrēvd 

bē-

: suffering the death of a loved one

bereaved families of the victims

bereaved

2 of 2

noun

plural bereaved

: someone who is suffering the death of a loved one : one who is bereaved

comfort the bereaved

Synonyms of bereaved

Adjective

• grieving
• bereft
• widowed

Examples of bereaved in a Sentence

Adjective

the bereaved parents of the victims

the grief of the bereaved parents seemed to be without limit

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Each post has been circulated repeatedly with desperate pleas from bereaved owners and basic information about their beloved animals. — Anabella Gonzalez, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

Organizers ultimately let the 10-year-old boy, her godson, join her, but the 12-year-old boy, who was the son of a bereaved friend, had to sit elsewhere. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Noun

The bereaved can heal, suicide prevention experts say, but their pain is often underestimated. — Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2022

Both those who have lost a loved one and professionals serving the bereaved can get help finding government resources as well as crisis-relief services and more. — Jennifer Wolff, Good Housekeeping, 17 Nov. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see bereave

Noun

see bereave

First Known Use

Adjective

1702, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1798, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bereaved

• the bereaved

Rhymes for bereaved

• disbelieved
• interleaved
• misconceived
• preconceived
• undeceived
• unperceived
• unrelieved
• achieved
• aggrieved
• believed
• conceived
• deceived

Kids Definition

bereaved

1 of 2 adjective

be·​reaved bi-ˈrēvd 

: suffering the death of a loved one

bereaved family members

bereaved

2 of 2 noun

plural bereaved

: a person who is bereaved