lamenting

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

la•ment /ləˈmɛnt/   v. 

1. to express mourning or grief for or over someone or something: [~ + object]
   The entire country lamented the death of their leader.
   [no object]
   The nation lamented in unity.
2. to be very sorry for;
   regret: [~ + the fact + that clause]
   We lament the fact that this company cannot continue to make a profit.
   [~ + object]
   lamented the news.

n. [countable]

3. an expression of grief, mourning, or sadness:
   a lament over the death of the leader.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

la•ment  (lə ment′), v.t. 

1. to feel or express sorrow or regret for:
   to lament his absence.
2. to mourn for or over.

v.i. 

3. to feel, show, or express grief, sorrow, or regret.
4. to mourn deeply.

n. 

5. an expression of grief or sorrow.
6. a formal expression of sorrow or mourning, esp. in verse or song;
   an elegy or dirge.

• Latin lāmentārī, derivative of lāmentum
• Latin lāmentum plaint; (verb, verbal)
• (noun, nominal) 1520–30

la•ment′er, n. 
la•ment′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1, 2. bewail, bemoan, deplore.
• 3, 4. grieve, weep.
• 5. lamentation, moan.
• 6. monody, threnody.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lament / ləˈmɛnt/ verb

1. to feel or express sorrow, remorse, or regret (for or over)

noun

1. an expression of sorrow
2. a poem or song in which a death is lamented

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin lāmentum

laˈmenter noun

laˈmentingly adverb