lament
lament — verb
- lamentpresent simple I / you / we / they
- lamentshe / she / it
- lamentedpast simple
- lamenting-ing form
1. to show or express strong sadness, regret, or disappointment about something, es
to show or express strong sadness, regret, or disappointment about something, especially by speaking or writing about it — for example, lamenting the loss of a public space or the passing of an old tradition.
Mira lamented the loss of the old library, where she had spent many happy afternoons as a child.
lament + noun (direct object: loss)
Adina lamented that the city had closed the last public swimming pool.
lament + that-clause
Arjun lamented the decision to cut arts programmes from the school curriculum.
Old residents gathered at the cafe, lamenting how the neighbourhood had changed over the years.
Nkechi lamented over the missed opportunity to study abroad when she was younger.
文法句型
lament + noun/pronoun
lament + that-clause
lament + about/over + noun
用法筆記
Subject is often a person or group expressing regret about something that has already happened. Frequently found in formal writing, journalism, and public speeches. The intransitive pattern with 'about' or 'over' sounds more emotional and less formal than the transitive use.
常見錯誤
lament — noun
- lamentsingular
- lamentsplural
1. a piece of music, poetry, or other writing created to express deep sadness about
a piece of music, poetry, or other writing created to express deep sadness about someone who has died or about something that has ended.
The choir sang a mournful lament for the villagers who died in the earthquake.
a lament for + noun (person/event mourned)
Diya wrote a heartfelt lament for her grandfather, a fisherman who taught her about the sea.
The poem is a lament for a lost way of life, mourning farms replaced by shopping centres.
A traditional Scottish lament played on the bagpipes filled the ancient stone church.
Archaeologists found an ancient lament carved into the wall of a tomb near the Nile.
文法句型
a lament for + noun
用法筆記
Used especially in literary, musical, and cultural contexts. A lament can be sung, recited, or written. Unlike 'elegy' (which is specifically a poem), 'lament' can also refer to a song or instrumental piece.
常見錯誤
2. a loud, emotional cry or sound that expresses deep pain, grief, or sorrow, often
a loud, emotional cry or sound that expresses deep pain, grief, or sorrow, often made without words.
A terrible lament rose from the crowd when the rescue team found no survivors.
a lament rose from + group (collective sound)
Linh let out a low lament when she saw the storm damage to her family home.
The fisherman's lament echoed across the harbour after his boat sank in the storm.
Rachid heard a woman's lament from the hospital room next door and felt his heart sink.
The mother's lament for her missing son could be heard throughout the village that night.
文法句型
a lament of + noun
let out a lament
用法筆記
This sense describes an actual vocal sound rather than a composed piece. It is more common in literary and historical narratives than in everyday speech. Distinguish from sense 1 (SONG OF GRIEF), which refers to a structured song or poem.