bereft Definition
- 1deprived of or lacking something, especially a nonmaterial asset
- 2sad and lonely, especially through someone's death or departure
Using bereft: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bereft" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The earthquake left the city bereft of electricity and water.
Example
She felt bereft after her husband's death.
Example
The company was bereft of ideas for new products.
Example
The child looked bereft when his mother left him at the daycare.
bereft Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with bereft
Example
The refugees were bereft of hope after years of living in camps.
Example
The bird was lying on the ground, bereft of life.
Example
After the accident, he was bereft of his senses for a few minutes.
Origins of bereft
from Old English 'berēafian', meaning 'to deprive'
Summary: bereft in Brief
The adjective 'bereft' [bɪˈrɛft] describes being deprived of something, often nonmaterial, and feeling sad and lonely, especially through someone's death or departure. Examples include 'The earthquake left the city bereft of electricity and water.' and 'She felt bereft after her husband's death.' The phrase 'bereft of hope' denotes complete lack of hope, while 'bereft of life' means dead.
