Grieve/ɡriːv/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Deep sadness Use 'grieve' to express profound emotional pain, stronger than just being sad. She grieved deeply after her dog passed away. Pro Tip 2/3Timeframe 'Grieve' doesn't have a time limit; it can be a process lasting a long time. Years later, he still grieves over the loss of his friend. Pro Tip 3/3Loss related Use 'grieve' specifically in the context of dealing with a loss, usually death. Many people gathered to grieve the loss of the community leader.