Lament — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /lə-ˈment/ la·ment

Meaning & Definition of Lament

Lament (verb)

  1. to mourn aloud, wail
  2. to express sorrow, mourning, or regret for often demonstratively, mourn
  3. to regret strongly

Lament (noun)

  1. a crying out in grief, wailing
  2. dirge, elegy
  3. complaint

Lament (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to feel or express sorrow for

    "she lamented the loss of her beloved pet to a degree that went way beyond words"

    similar: bemoan, bewail, deplore, grieve (for), mourn, wail (for)
    related: elegize, cry (for), keen, moan, weep, regret, rue, bawl, blubber, sob, agonize, bleed, hurt, sorrow, suffer
    opposite: delight, exult (in), glory (in), joy, rejoice (in)
    near: beam, cheer, grin, laugh, smile

  2. to feel sorry or dissatisfied about

    "the youth lamented not having spent more time with his late grandfather"

    similar: bemoan, deplore, regret, repent, rue
    related: ache (for), bewail, grieve (for), mourn, sorrow (for)
    near: delight (in), enjoy, relish, revel (in), savor

Lament (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a crying out in grief

    "the national lament that was heard when the beloved singer perished in the crash"

    similar: groan, howl, keen, lamentation, moan, plaint, wail
    related: cry, sob, tears, agonizing, grieving, mourning, sorrowing, suffering, weeping, hand-wringing, regret, complaint, cri de coeur, outcry, protest, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, sorrow, woe
    opposite: exultation, rejoicing
    near: cheering, laughing, smiling

  2. a composition expressing one's grief over a loss

    "a poem that is her lament for her late grandmother"

    similar: dirge, elegy, requiem, threnody
    related: taps, elegiac, monody
    near: encomium, eulogy, paean, panegyric

  3. an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment

    "the actress' lament that there aren't enough good roles for women"

    similar: beef, bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer
    related: challenge, demur, expostulation, kick, niggle (chiefly British), objection, protest, quibble, remonstrance, stink
    near: commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lament

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lament:

British: whinge
bemoan, bewail, deplore, grieve (for), mourn, wail (for), regret, repent, rue, groan, howl, keen, lamentation, moan, plaint, wail, dirge, elegy, requiem, threnody, beef, bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, miserere, murmur, squawk, whimper, whine, yammer

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Lament

Words with the opposite meaning of Lament:

delight, exult (in), glory (in), joy, rejoice (in), exultation, rejoicing

Related Words for Lament

elegize, cry (for), weep, bawl, blubber, sob, agonize, bleed, hurt, sorrow, suffer, ache (for), sorrow (for), cry, tears, agonizing, grieving, mourning, sorrowing, suffering, weeping, hand-wringing, cri de coeur, outcry, protest, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak

Near Antonyms of Lament

beam, cheer, grin, laugh, smile, delight (in), enjoy, relish, revel (in), savor, cheering, laughing, smiling, encomium, eulogy, paean, panegyric, commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction

Word Forms of Lament

Inflections: lamented, lamenting, laments

Origin & Etymology of Lament

Middle English lementen, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French lamenter, from Latin lamentari, from lamentum, noun, lament

First known use: 15th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Lament

What does "Lament" mean?

"Lament" means to mourn aloud, wail. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to mourn aloud, wail. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Lament"?

Other words for "Lament" include bemoan, bewail, deplore, grieve (for), mourn, wail (for), regret and repent. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lament" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lament"?

There are 83 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lament". Common alternatives include bemoan, bewail, deplore, grieve (for), mourn, wail (for), regret, repent, rue and groan.

What is the opposite of "Lament"?

Antonyms of "Lament" include delight, exult (in), glory (in), joy, rejoice (in), exultation and rejoicing. Near antonyms include beam, cheer, grin and laugh.

How do you use "Lament" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lament" in a sentence: "she lamented the loss of her beloved pet to a degree that went way beyond words"; "the youth lamented not having spent more time with his late grandfather"; "the national lament that was heard when the beloved singer perished in the crash".

Is "Lament" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lament" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Lament"?

"Lament" is pronounced /lə-ˈment/ and divided into syllables as la·ment.

What is the origin of the word "Lament"?

"Lament" comes from Middle English lementen, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French lamenter, from Latin lamentari, from lamentum, noun, lament. First known use: 15th centuryt.