lamentation
noun
lam·en·ta·tion
ˌla-mən-ˈtā-shən 
: an expression of sorrow, mourning, or regret : an act or instance of lamenting
a song of lamentation
… blending a lamentation over the effects of time with a kind of apologia for it.—
Glen R. Brown
Glen R. Brown
Examples of lamentation in a Sentence
bitter lamentations for the dead
words spoken in lamentation for the dead
Recent Examples on the Web
Hughes used that lamentation to argue that this writer — of Black middle-class upbringing — wanted to be white.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023
Mama, the founder and director emeritus of the Mt. Vernon High Dramatic League and first soloist at the Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church, coaches her to experience the truth of the mother’s lamentation scene.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023
Story continues below advertisement Advertisement In 1990, state officials, responding to the lamentations of townspeople, submitted a request for historical recognition.
—Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 28 July 2023
Loud were his lamentations and great was his distress.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 7 Feb. 2022
At the plaza, mariachis played lamentations and an assembly led by surviving teacher Arnulfo Reyes carried Uvalde Strong flags in orange, the color of the gun violence prevention movement.
—Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 25 May 2023
Immediately, their lamentations took on biblical proportions.
—Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2023
In some parts, the book did not age as well as its author, despite her lamentations about her neck.
—Karen Heller, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
Against these mesmerizing backdrops, the soprano floats short texts of lamentation, all of them summoning relationships between mother and child riven by loss.
—Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Mar. 2023
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Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023
Mama, the founder and director emeritus of the Mt. Vernon High Dramatic League and first soloist at the Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church, coaches her to experience the truth of the mother’s lamentation scene.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023
Story continues below advertisement Advertisement In 1990, state officials, responding to the lamentations of townspeople, submitted a request for historical recognition.
—Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 28 July 2023
Loud were his lamentations and great was his distress.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 7 Feb. 2022
At the plaza, mariachis played lamentations and an assembly led by surviving teacher Arnulfo Reyes carried Uvalde Strong flags in orange, the color of the gun violence prevention movement.
—Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 25 May 2023
Immediately, their lamentations took on biblical proportions.
—Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2023
In some parts, the book did not age as well as its author, despite her lamentations about her neck.
—Karen Heller, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
Against these mesmerizing backdrops, the soprano floats short texts of lamentation, all of them summoning relationships between mother and child riven by loss.
—Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lamentation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of lamentation was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near lamentation
Cite this Entry
“Lamentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lamentation. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on lamentation
Nglish: Translation of lamentation for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lamentation for Arabic Speakers
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