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

The government has rejected calls to give bereaved families more time to pay. — Marc Shoffman, TheWeek, 9 Apr. 2026

Fifteen years after Dylan’s death, Ramsay continues to answer calls from bereaved parents. — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 28 June 2026

Noun

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

Survivors and the bereaved observed the silence at the foot Grenfell Tower, where a new mosaic was unveiled. — Karla Adam, Washington Post, 14 June 2018

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