Bereft
adjective /bɪˈreft/ — Desolate from the absence of something essential
Definition
Deprived of and greatly missing something — particularly a person or quality — in a way that leaves one incomplete and disoriented.
Beyond the definition
Grief in the shape of an absence. To be bereft is not just to be sad — it is to reach for something that is no longer there.
Origin & history
From Old English 'bereafian' (to rob, to plunder) — past participle 'bereafed', contracted to 'bereft'. To be bereft is to have been robbed.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Without her guiding presence, the team felt utterly bereft of direction.
Bereft is the word for after — after the loss, when the absence is the loudest thing in the room.
She was bereft, but she would not use the word. She said fine, as people do.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Bereft” when the meaning fits your context: Deprived of and greatly missing something — particularly a person or quality — in a way that leaves one incomplete and disoriented.
Synonyms
desolate, deprived, stripped, empty, forlorn
Antonyms
full, complete, whole, consoled
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Bereft" mean?
Bereft is adjective meaning: Desolate from the absence of something essential. Deprived of and greatly missing something — particularly a person or quality — in a way that leaves one incomplete and disoriented.
Where does the word "Bereft" come from?
From Old English 'bereafian' (to rob, to plunder) — past participle 'bereafed', contracted to 'bereft'. To be bereft is to have been robbed.