Word
grief
US/ˈɡɹif/
UK/ɡɹˈiːf/
Definitions
01deep sadness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the very strong feeling of sadness you have when someone you love dies.
n. intense emotional suffering caused by loss, particularly the death of a loved one. Uncountable in its general sense, though specific instances may be countable.
日本語:深い悲しみ※
“She felt a deep sense of grief after her grandfather passed away last year.”
“The community came together to support the family in their grief, offering both emotional comfort and practical assistance during the mourning period.”
Synonyms
02trouble or annoyance
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Informal
n. trouble, problems, or criticism from someone.
n. trouble, annoyance, or verbal harassment. Often used in the idiom 'to give someone grief'.
“My boss gave me a lot of grief for arriving ten minutes late to the meeting.”
“He decided to quit the team because he was tired of the constant grief he received from the fans after every loss.”
03to harass in a game
C1 · Advanced Computing Slang
v. to deliberately annoy or ruin the game for other players in an online video game.
v. to deliberately harass other players in a multiplayer online game, typically by using game mechanics to destroy their work or prevent progress.
“Some players enjoy griefing beginners by destroying the houses they spent hours building.”
“The server administrator banned the user for griefing, as they had repeatedly sabotaged the collaborative construction project without provocation.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and usually describes actions within a virtual environment.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “grief” in context.
Verb
01. give someone grief
“The boss is giving me grief about the project being two days late.”
verb + noun
02. overcome grief
“She eventually overcame her grief and began to find joy in her hobbies again.”
verb + noun
03. process grief
“It takes time for a person to process grief after the loss of a long-term partner.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. overwhelming grief
“The family was struck by overwhelming grief following the sudden accident.”
adj + noun
05. unresolved grief
“Unresolved grief can manifest as physical symptoms or chronic anxiety years later.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. grief counseling
“The school provided grief counseling for students after the tragedy.”
noun + noun
07. stages of grief
“Psychologists often discuss the five stages of grief that people experience during bereavement.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in grief
“The entire nation was in grief following the passing of the beloved leader.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Both Ramsey and Jaques think we could be better at allowing people to experience grief without expecting them to quickly return to normal.” “The grief of losing a pet is complicated and often comes with guilt, writes Helena Wilkinson.” “Ambrosini efficiently guides us across the years, Dungeon Master-like, through fumbling sex, consuming grief and boring jobs.” Etymology
From Middle English greef, gref, from Old French grief (“grave, heavy, grievous, sad”), from Latin gravis (“heavy, grievous, sad”). Doublet of grave.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. come to grief
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/grief
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0