lament
/ləˈment/ (bre, ipa) · /ləˈment/ (ame, ipa) · /lə-ˈment/ (ame, mw)
lament — verb
- lamentpresent simple I / you / we / they
- lamentshe / she / it
- lamentedpast simple
- lamenting-ing form
1. to feel or openly show great sadness, disappointment, or regret about something
to feel or openly show great sadness, disappointment, or regret about something that has happened or been lost, especially when you believe it should not have happened.
Residents lamented the closure of the town library, calling it a great loss to the community.
Yuki lamented that the old cherry trees had been cut down to make space for a parking lot.
lament + that-clause for expressing regret about a change
In his final speech, the principal lamented the decline in student interest for music programmes.
Environmental groups lamented the government's decision to allow mining in the protected forest.
The poet's letters lament the loneliness she felt during her years in a foreign country.
- mourn
stronger emotional weight, specifically linked to death or profound loss
- bemoan
more dramatic or literary; often implies complaining as well as sadness
- deplore
strong disapproval mixed with sadness, common in political or moral contexts
- grieve
more personal and emotional; focuses on the internal experience of loss
文法句型
lament + noun phrase
lament + that-clause
用法筆記
Frequently used in formal, public, or literary contexts. Often takes a that-clause ('they lamented that…') or a noun phrase referring to a loss or unwelcome change.
常見錯誤
lament — noun
- lamentsingular
- lamentsplural
1. a piece of writing, music, or song that expresses deep sadness, usually about th
a piece of writing, music, or song that expresses deep sadness, usually about the death of a particular person or the end of something important.
The folk singer performed a lament for the miners who had died in the accident.
lament + for + person/group
Amir read a lament he had written for his grandmother at her funeral service.
This medieval lament describes a knight's sorrow after losing his king in battle.
The poem is a lament for a way of life that disappeared with the arrival of modern farming.
- anthem
a celebratory or uplifting song, opposite in tone to a lament
用法筆記
Unlike the verb, the noun can refer to a specific artistic work (song, poem, or piece of music). 'Lament for…' is the most common prepositional pattern.
常見錯誤
2. a loud, wordless expression of grief or pain, such as weeping, wailing, or cryin
a loud, wordless expression of grief or pain, such as weeping, wailing, or crying out, often heard in the context of mourning or during a funeral.
The widow's lament could be heard across the cemetery as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
A bitter lament rose from the crowd when the rescue team announced that no survivors had been found.
collective/public lament
Traditional mourners performed a lament that mixed weeping with rhythmic chanting and hand-clapping.
Kwame's mother let out a sharp lament when she heard the news of the accident.
- cheer
a shout of joy or encouragement, opposite in sound and emotion
用法筆記
Describes the raw vocal sound of grief rather than a structured artistic work. Common in descriptions of traditional or cross-cultural mourning rituals. Distinguish from noun/sense 1, where 'lament' is a composed piece (song/poem).