verb

lament

luh-MEHNT

verb

To express deep sorrow or regret over something.

"She lamented the loss of her childhood home."

"Critics lamented the closure of the local library."

noun

An expression of grief or regret, sometimes in the form of a song or poem.

"The folk singer performed a lament for miners lost in the disaster."

How to Use Lament

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo express sadness or regret about something, often publicly or in writing — or a piece of writing/music that does this.

Common pairings

lament the loss of lament that a lament for

lamented past tense, laments plural, laments singular

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She _____ the loss of her childhood home.

A back-formation from "lamentation," or borrowed from Middle French lamenter and Latin lamentor, "to wail or weep."

afterthink becry begrieve bemoan bemourn bewail beweep condole deplore elegize grieve grieven

cheer up gladden

weep pity enchant repent grieve complain surrender deplore

ornament ligament armament filament sacrament testament firmament tournament parliament temperament predicament disarmament

afterthink becry begrieve bemoan bemourn bewail beweep condole deplore elegize grieve grieven