lament

1 of 2

verb

la·​ment lə-ˈment 

lamented; lamenting; laments

intransitive verb

: to mourn aloud : wail

… nightingales lament without ceasing …

—L. P. Smith

transitive verb

1

: to express sorrow, mourning, or regret for often demonstratively : mourn

… must regret the imprudence, lament the result …

—Jane Austen

2

: to regret strongly

He lamented his decision not to go to college.

lament

2 of 2

noun

1

: a crying out in grief : wailing

2

: dirge, elegy

3

: complaint

Synonyms of lament

Verb

• mourn
• regret

Noun

• wail
• lamentation
• tears
• mourning
• cry
• groan
• howl
• weeping
• moan
• keen

Choose the Right Synonym for lament

deplore, lament, bewail, bemoan mean to express grief or sorrow for something.

deplore implies regret for the loss or impairment of something of value.

deplores the breakdown in family values

lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow.

lamenting the loss of their only child

bewail and bemoan imply sorrow, disappointment, or protest finding outlet in words or cries, bewail commonly suggesting loudness, and bemoan lugubriousness.

fans bewailed the defeat

purists bemoaning the corruption of the language

Examples of lament in a Sentence

Verb

She lamented over the loss of her best friend.

“I've lost my best friend!” she lamented.

Noun

The poem is a lament for a lost love.

the national lament that was heard when the beloved singer perished in the crash

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In addition to lamenting the penalties, Johnson also wasn’t pleased with the offense’s performance inside the 20-yard line. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

During the May 21 vote, many board members lamented that their hands were tied by state law and a 3rd District Appellate Court ruling upholding the state’s solar siting regulations. — Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Noun

That ambiguity is echoed in Banks’ score, which takes on the tone of a lament and a celebration, frustration and hope, struggle and liberation, the quest for transcendence in the face of the challenges posed by daunting inequities. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

The other main track of Diamanda’s career is her interpretations of old standards, Gospel songs, laments, and folk tunes. — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English lementen, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French lamenter, from Latin lamentari, from lamentum, noun, lament

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lament

• accent
• advent
• ascent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event

Kids Definition

lament

1 of 2 verb

la·​ment lə-ˈment 

1

: to mourn aloud : wail

2

: to express sorrow for : bewail

lamentation

ˌlam-ən-ˈtā-shən

noun

lament

2 of 2 noun

1

: a crying out in grief

2

: a mournful song or poem