bereft
/bəˈɹɛft/
Group 25Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Deprived of; lacking something; sad and lonely GRE
Example in Context
The community was bereft of leadership after the sudden departure of the three officials who had guided it through the previous crisis.
Synonyms
deprivedlackingstripped
Etymology
Deprived of something valuable; left in sadness.
- bereave (Old English) — to deprive
Memory Aid
😢Sounds like “be left”
Imagine someone who has just been 'LEFT' behind at a party, looking 'BEREFT' and all alone!
Visual Association
💔A lonely figure sitting on a park bench, surrounded by empty spaces where friends once were.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “bereft” mean on the GRE?
bereft (adjective) means “Deprived of; lacking something; sad and lonely”. The community was bereft of leadership after the sudden departure of the three officials who had guided it through the previous crisis.
How to remember “bereft” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “bereft” sounds like “be left”. Imagine someone who has just been 'LEFT' behind at a party, looking 'BEREFT' and all alone!
What are synonyms for “bereft”?
Common synonyms: deprived, lacking, stripped.