mournful

American  

[mawrn-fuhl, mohrn-] / ˈmɔrn fəl, ˈmoʊrn- /

adjective

1. feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sorrowful; sad.

2. of or relating to mourning mourning for the dead.

3. causing grief or lament.

   a mournful occasion.

4. gloomy, somber, or dreary, as in appearance or character.

   mournful shadows.

---

mournful British  

/ ˈmɔːnfʊl /

adjective

1. evoking grief; sorrowful

2. gloomy; sad

---

Other Word Forms

• mournfully adverb
• mournfulness noun
• overmournful adjective
• overmournfully adverb
• overmournfulness noun
• unmournful adjective
• unmournfully adverb

Etymology

Origin of mournful

First recorded in 1375–1425, mournful is from the late Middle English word morneful. See mourn, -ful

Example Sentences

In it, Slayyyter explores her hometown roots, family dynamics and desire at her most trashy, mournful, hungry and loud; as the “Worst Girl in America,” Slayyyter is raw.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

January’s spending data told a mournful story: Americans are spending more on healthcare and housing, and pulling back on clothing, cars, and just about everything else.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

"Oh Dipu, where is my Dipu?" she cries, collapsing into a mournful lament.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

I didn’t know just how mournful to be, though, as the festival marched along, it became clear there was a space for nostalgic reflections.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

The long, mournful moan of a bone ship floated across the waves.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Related Words

• anguished
• forlorn
• sad