To grieve means to feel deep sadness after losing someone or something important to you. When a beloved grandparent dies, family members grieve. When a family pet passes away, children grieve. The feeling is more than ordinary sadness: it's a heavy, aching sorrow that comes from missing someone who mattered deeply.

Grief doesn't follow rules or schedules. Some people grieve quietly, while others cry openly. Grief might hit hard immediately, or it might sneak up on you weeks later when you suddenly remember something about the person you lost. You might feel angry, confused, or empty. All of these reactions can be normal parts of grieving.

People can also grieve losses beyond death. You might grieve when a close friend moves far away, or when your family leaves a home you loved. These losses hurt because they represent the end of something meaningful in your life.

The process of grieving takes time, and there's no “correct” way to do it. Gradually, the sharp pain softens into a gentler sadness, though you never completely forget the person or what you lost.