grief

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noun \ˈgrēf\

Definition of grief

1 obsolete : grievance 3
2a : deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement his grief over his son's deathb : a cause of such suffering life's joys and griefs
3a : an unfortunate outcome : disaster —used chiefly in the phrase come to griefb : mishap, misadventurec : trouble, annoyance enough grief for one dayd : annoying or playful criticism getting grief from his friends

See grief defined for English-language learners

See grief defined for kids

Examples of grief in a Sentence

He has been unable to recover from his grief at his son's death.
She was overcome with grief.
the joys and griefs of our lives
I've had enough grief for one day.
Trying to fix the computer isn't worth the grief.
He's taken a lot of grief from his friends.
His friends have been giving him a lot of grief.

Recent Examples of grief from the Web

Meanwhile, Majora’s Mask delved into loss and grief as ancillary characters come to terms with their deaths in light of a looming natural disaster.

— karen han, The Atlantic, "Coming of Age With The Legend of Zelda", 2 July 2017
There were no prepared remarks or carefully recited poems at a Friday night (June 30) vigil on Chef Menteur Highway -- just the deep wails and sobs of raw grief at the loss of a 2-year-old girl described by family as a happy, energetic child.

— laura mcknight, NOLA.com, "2-year-old girl killed in crash following police chase mourned at vigil", 30 June 2017
Some of them have been even been publicly reported on, causing momentary grief for the perpetrators, who hid for a few months and later emerged with new jobs.

— erin griffith, Fortune, "Term Sheet — Friday, June 30", 30 June 2017
Bennett said the foundation's mission is to provide financial support, grief counseling, scholarships and other help to individuals and families affected by gun violence and police violence.

— amy forliti, chicagotribune.com, "Philando Castile family reaches $3M settlement in death", 26 June 2017
From my point of view, this work is nothing more than the quintessence of the world’s grief, the composer’s requiem for himself.

— leilah bernstein, Los Angeles Magazine, "This Ballet About Tchaikovsky Reveals the Composer’s Talent and Torment", 23 June 2017
Central On Stage presents this rollicking journey of innocence and revelation, loneliness and belonging, loyalty and betrayal, grief and joy.

— gege reed, The Courier-Journal, "13 theater & comedy acts June 22-28", 21 June 2017
The horrific slaying of the South Lakes High School student reverberated beyond Virginia on Monday, as social media lit up with anger and grief, politicians expressed condolences and groups of various faiths condemned the violence.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "Killing of Muslim teen near Va. mosque stemmed from road rage, police say", 20 June 2017
An ongoing grief support group is being held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays at the First Congregational Church, 695 Hartford Turnpike.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Vernon Edition", 12 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grief'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of grief

Middle English gref, from Anglo-French gref, grief injustice, calamity, from gref, adjective heavy, grievous, from Vulgar Latin *grevis, alteration of Latin gravis —see grieve

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of grief

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind. sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse. a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause. the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents anguish suggests torturing grief or dread. the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery. cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse. nagging regret for missed opportunities

GRIEF Defined for English Language Learners

grief

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noun

Definition of grief for English Language Learners

: deep sadness caused especially by someone's death
: a cause of deep sadness
: trouble or annoyance

GRIEF Defined for Kids

grief

play

noun \ˈgrēf\

Definition of grief for Students

1 : very deep sorrow
2 : a cause of sorrow The dog was nothing but grief to its owner.
3 : things that cause problems I've had enough grief for one day.
4 : an unfortunate happening The boat came to grief on the rocks.

Medical Dictionary

grief

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noun \ˈgrēf\

Medical Definition of grief

: deep and poignant emotional distress caused by or as if by bereavement Although, there is no consensus on the defining features that would distinguish normal and pathological grief, it is generally accepted that grief becomes pathological when the reactions are excessive, prolonged, or unresolved.—Jaye Wald and Rosemarie Alvaro, The Journal of Rehabilitation, 1 Oct. 2004; also : a cause of such suffering