Skip to main content

lamentto express grief, sorrow, or regret about something

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to express grief, sorrow, or regret about something

Pronunciation (IPA): /ləˈment/

Example Sentences

  • Students lament the end of summer vacation every year.
  • The old man's lament about modern technology lasted for three hours.
  • She wrote a lament for her broken smartphone.

lament

VERB

[/ləˈment/]

to express grief, sorrow, or regret about something

The old man touched the giant tree stump, lamenting the loss of the forest.
💡 Concept

The old man touched the giant tree stump, lamenting the loss of the forest.

LAME(broken) + MENT(state) — seeing his bicycle crushed into a lame state made the boy lament.
🧠 Mnemonic

LAME(broken) + MENT(state) — seeing his bicycle crushed into a lame state made the boy lament.

Dropping his phone into the wet cement, he could do nothing but lament.
🎵 Rhyme

Dropping his phone into the wet cement, he could do nothing but lament.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ləˈment/
🇬🇧 UK/ləˈment/

🌳Etymology

Rootlament

Origin

From Latin 'lamentari' meaning 'to wail or mourn,' which is related to 'lamenta' (lamentation). The word entered English through Old French 'lamenter' in the 13th century.

Breakdown

From Latin 'lament-' (to wail) + '-' (no additional suffix in base form) = lament. Can also be analyzed as 'lament' (root expressing wailing/mourning) + '-ation' (noun suffix) = lamentation

🎵Rhyme

cementpreventpresentcontent
cement
prevent
present
content

🔗Collocations

lament the loss
deeply lament
lament over something
funeral lament
bitter lament

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

Students lament the end of summer vacation every year.

😄 Fun example

The old man's lament about modern technology lasted for three hours.

😄 Fun example

She wrote a lament for her broken smartphone.

The nation lamented the passing of their beloved leader.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

mourngrievebewaildeploreregret

Antonyms

celebraterejoicepraise

Related

sorrowgriefmourningelegydirge

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.