lament

American  

[luh-ment] / ləˈmɛnt /

verb (used with object)

1. to feel or express sorrow or regret for.

   to lament his absence.

   Synonyms:

   deplore, bemoan, bewail

2. to mourn for or over.

   Synonyms:

   deplore, bemoan, bewail

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verb (used without object)

1. to feel, show, or express grief, sorrow, or regret.

   Synonyms:

   weep, grieve

2. to mourn deeply.

   Synonyms:

   weep, grieve

noun

1. an expression of grief or sorrow.

   Synonyms:

   moan, lamentation

2. a formal expression of sorrow or mourning, especially in verse or song; an elegy or dirge.

   Synonyms:

   threnody, monody

lament British  

/ ləˈmɛnt /

verb

1. to feel or express sorrow, remorse, or regret (for or over)

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noun

1. an expression of sorrow

2. a poem or song in which a death is lamented

Other Word Forms

• lamenter noun
• lamentingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of lament

First recorded in 1520–30; (noun) from Latin lāmentum “plaint”; (verb) from Latin lāmentārī, derivative of lāmentum

Example Sentences

“There is an involuntary review,” he says, “in between the multiple times per day I nap. But it’s not a grieving lament.”

From The Wall Street Journal

This made the laments at Friday’s panel sound like the world’s longest re-creation of the “We’re all trying to find the guy who did this” Hot Dog suit meme.

From The Wall Street Journal

She laments curtailing her protests out of fear.

From The Wall Street Journal

“They can get extremely soggy,” lamented one customer in a video posted this week.

From The Wall Street Journal

Kish wrote in an Instagram post lamenting about the general struggle of eating and cooking while on the show.

From Salon

Related Words

• bemoan
• deplore
• regret