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.

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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

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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

The crushing response sent society into shock and mourning, in an atmosphere of silence, bewilderment, anger and uncertainty about the future.

From Barron's

The crushing response sent society into shock and mourning, in an atmosphere of silence, bewilderment, anger and uncertainty about the future.

From Barron's

And, barely two years into the new regime, my mother and her friends were mourning their blind involvement.

From The Wall Street Journal

Depending on one’s relationship to the deceased, official mourning lasted from three months to more than two years after the funeral.

From Literature

It would be easy for me to spend my time mourning.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• grief