Showing results for "mourning"

• present participle of mourn.

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

• unmourning
  adjective
• mourningly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of mourning

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

Explanation

Mourning is a time of sadness because of a loss. When you're in mourning after a loved one dies, it is good to lean on your friends who understand why you are so sad. Mourning is an expression of grief or a time of grieving that follows a loved one's death or other serious loss. Depression, confusion, even losing interest in friends and social activities all can occur when someone is in mourning. An old-fashioned meaning of mourning is specifically the black clothing people traditionally wear following a death. Don't confuse mourning with morning, the early part of the day.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mourning

In Chitwan district, mourning relatives cremated some of the dead.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Britain's King Charles III said he was mourning his "dear cousin".

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Children with their parents did the same, some of them taking selfies as police officers, mourning locals and some tourists stood by.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

In a realistic 1870s monument for a member of the Piaggio family, a dead man’s widow, shown leaving the door of a tomb, is wearing an elaborate lace shawl and mourning through her sculpted eyelashes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

As the head of the family and chief mourner, Jinjoo’s father stayed at the home of the deceased with Gomo for the entire mourning period.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

Related Words

• grief