bewail: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Formal
Quick answer
What does “bewail” mean?
To express great sorrow, regret, or disappointment about something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To express great sorrow, regret, or disappointment about something; to lament, mourn, or complain about it, often publicly.
To dwell on or voice profound grief, especially in a sustained or theatrical manner. Often implies a sense of powerlessness or passive acceptance of a negative situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British literary contexts, but equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Both share a connotation of being somewhat old-fashioned, poetic, or deliberately dramatic.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties. Found primarily in literature, formal writing, or rhetorical speech.
Grammar
How to Use “bewail” in a Sentence
[Sb] bewails [sth][Sb] bewails that-clauseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bewail” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The editorial bewailed the decline of traditional high street shops.
- She sat bewailing her lost opportunities over a cup of tea.
American English
- Pundits bewailed the current state of political discourse.
- He bewailed the fact that his team traded the star player.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal, critical commentary: 'Analysts bewail the company's lack of innovation.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism or historical texts to describe characters or societal attitudes.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Would sound deliberately old-fashioned or humorous.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bewail”
- Using it in everyday speech. Incorrectly using it with a direct person object (e.g., 'He bewailed his friend' is odd; 'He bewailed his friend's death' is correct). Confusing it with 'beware'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, literary word. You will almost never hear it in casual conversation, but you might encounter it in novels, poetry, or formal writing.
'Bewail' is more emotional, dramatic, and sorrowful. It focuses on grief and lament. 'Complain' is more general, often about annoyances, and can be petty. 'Bewail' is also much more formal.
Yes. Its direct object is typically the thing being lamented (a loss, a fact, a state), not the person who is the cause of grief. You bewail a death, not the dead person.
Not directly. The related noun is 'lament' or 'lamentation'. You would not say 'a bewail'.
To express great sorrow, regret, or disappointment about something.
Bewail is usually literary, formal in register.
Bewail: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈweɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈweɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bewail one's lot (in life)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BE-WAIL' - to BE in a state of WAILing (crying loudly).
Conceptual Metaphor
GRIEF IS A SOUND (to wail). REGRET IS A BURDEN (to carry and express).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'bewail' used most appropriately?