grieved; grieving
1
: to cause to suffer : distress
it grieves me to see him this way
2
: to feel or show grief over
grieving the death of her son
3
: to submit a formal grievance concerning
grieve a dismissal
: to feel grief : sorrow
still grieving over their mother's death
Examples of grieve in a Sentence
It grieves me to see my brother struggling like this.
Her decision to live overseas grieved her mother.
People need time to grieve after the death of a family member.
The children are still grieving the death of their mother.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amid the busy work of grief, the young women have no real time to grieve for themselves.
—
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
What’s the right way to grieve when the act won’t forgive a crime?
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
The school district is offering resources to the grieving students at Washington Middle School, who are in grades 6 though 8, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025
River of tears The hallway outside the courtroom was packed with grieving family members, who had been clinging onto a hope for justice for nearly seven years.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grieve
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Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
What’s the right way to grieve when the act won’t forgive a crime?
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
The school district is offering resources to the grieving students at Washington Middle School, who are in grades 6 though 8, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025
River of tears The hallway outside the courtroom was packed with grieving family members, who had been clinging onto a hope for justice for nearly seven years.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grieve
Cite this Entry
“Grieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grieve. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Etymology
Middle English greven "to distress, grieve," from early French grever (same meaning), from Latin gravare "to burden," from gravis "heavy, serious" — related to aggravate, grave entry 3, gravity
Medical Definition
grieve
verb
grieved; grieving
: to feel or show grief over
grieving the death of her son
: to feel grief
Each member of a family is likely to grieve differently, creating great potential for conflict.—Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic Monthly
Eric Schlosser, The Atlantic Monthly
griever
noun
Antidepressants do not ease the longing for the deceased that grievers feel.
—Virginia Hughes, Scientific American
Virginia Hughes, Scientific American
Legal Definition
grieve
verb
grieved; grieving
: to submit (a grievance) to a grievance procedure
wage claims…had been contractually grieved—M. A. Kelly
M. A. Kelly
: to bring a grievance under a grievance procedure
as a union member, Jackson was obligated to grieve — not sue—Jackson v. Liquid Carbonic Corp., 863 F.2d 111 (1988)
Jackson v. Liquid Carbonic Corp., 863 F.2d 111 (1988)Love words? Need even more definitions?
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