widow

A woman whose husband or wife has died, especially one who has not married again.

• She became a widow last year.
• The charity supports widows and their children.
• His widow still lives in their old house.

Common phrases: young widow, war widow

A woman whose husband spends so much time on an activity that she is often alone.

• She calls herself a golf widow.
• Football widows meet while their husbands watch the match.
• I become a cricket widow every summer.

Common phrases: golf widow, football widow

To cause someone to lose their husband or wife through death.

• The war widowed many young women.
• He was widowed at thirty.
• The accident had widowed her only months after the wedding.

How to use it: be widowed (She was widowed when her husband died in the war.)

Common phrases: widow someone, be widow early