lamenting

American  

[luh-men-ting] / ləˈmɛn tɪŋ /

adjective

1. speaking of something with sorrow, regret, or disappointment; evoking feelings of this kind.

   After the controlled mayhem of their first number, the band went into a laid-back groove with a lamenting melody on the sax.

   As sure as the season changes, we are once again hearing the lamenting call of British Columbia's most vocal crusader against salmon farming.

2. mourning or grieving over something, especially death or profound loss or suffering.

   In some countries, people follow the custom of leading a procession with the decorated body of the dead, for the benefit of the lamenting relatives.

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noun

1. the act of grieving or of expressing regret or disappointment.

   Complain and point the finger all you want, but this is not a problem that lamenting will solve.

Other Word Forms

• lamentingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of lamenting

First recorded in 1510–20; lament ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; lament ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

"It's ridiculous," he said, lamenting how he has had to cut down on driving.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

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

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Sebastian himself has a neutral rating on PayPal’s stock, lamenting some strategic choices that failed to pan out, in his view.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

We see Shahverdi give a speech to a hall of women, lamenting how girls as young as 11 are married and giving birth.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

He lived out the remainder of his life in Azkaban, lamenting the loss of Marvolo’s last heirloom, and is buried beside the prison, alongside the other poor souls who have expired within its walls.”

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling