mourning

American  

[mawr-ning, mohr-] / ˈmɔr nɪŋ, ˈmoʊr- /

noun

1. the act of a person who mourns; sorrowing or lamentation.

   Antonyms:

   rejoicing

2. the conventional manifestation of sorrow for a person's death, especially by the wearing of black clothes or a black armband, the hanging of flags at half-mast, etc.

3. the outward symbols of such sorrow, as black garments.

4. the period or interval during which a person grieves or formally expresses grief, as by wearing black garments.

---

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in mourning.

mourning British  

/ ˈmɔːnɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or feelings of one who mourns; grief

2. the conventional symbols of grief, such as the wearing of black

3. the period of time during which a death is officially mourned

4. observing the conventions of mourning

---

adjective

1. of or relating to mourning

Other Word Forms

• mourningly adverb
• unmourning adjective

Etymology

Origin of mourning

before 900; Middle English (noun, adj.); Old English murnung (noun). See mourn, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Although attendees were mourning, the event was joyous and featured traditional Hannukah treats of latkes, which are fried potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, which are jelly doughnuts.

From Los Angeles Times

Noem also said that hundreds more federal agents were heading to Minneapolis, where there have been daily protests and vigils mourning Good's death.

From Barron's

The Iranian government on Sunday declared three days of national mourning for "martyrs" including members of the security forces killed in two weeks of protests, state television said.

From Barron's

Notes of praise and mourning flood its social media pages.

From Los Angeles Times

For now, the Cuban government has robustly denounced the attack as illegal and declared two days of national mourning for 32 Cuban nationals killed in the US military operation.

From BBC

Related Words

• grief