Pine away

usgb
verb phrase

To suffer greatly from longing or from grief, often to the point of becoming weak or ill.

After their breakup, he just seemed to pine away, losing interest in everything he once enjoyed.
Visual representation of "pine away" - To suffer greatly from longing or from grief, often to the point of becoming weak or ill

Often appears as...

  • pine away for somebody
  • pine away with grief

Usage tips

Disapproving

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "pine away"
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Emotional Weight

Use 'pine away' to express deep, impactful emotion, suggesting a person may be greatly affected.

Illustration for Emotional Weight
She pined away after her dog went missing, looking thinner and more distraught each day.
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Health Decline

Pining away can imply physical deterioration linked to emotional distress.

Illustration for Health Decline
Since his wife's death, he's been pining away, neglecting to care for himself.
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Expressing Grief

'Pine away' is often used in the context of grieving, especially when someone feels overwhelming sorrow.

Illustration for Expressing Grief
The whole family seemed to pine away during that endless winter of mourning.
Visual representation of the word "Pine away"

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