mourning

noun

mourn·​ing ˈmȯr-niŋ How to pronounce mourning (audio)
Synonyms of mourningnext
1
: the act of sorrowing
She is still in mourning for her dead husband.
2
a
: an outward sign (such as black clothes or an armband) of grief for a person's death
lots of people there, and only one man in full mourning— Arnold Bennett
b
: a period of time during which signs of grief are shown
after a long mourning, resume their ordinary dresses— Henry Reed

Examples of mourning in a Sentence

a day of national mourning She is still in mourning for her dead husband. The whole town was in mourning. a period of deep mourning His widow was dressed in mourning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The family is now in mourning while also celebrating their new addition Noah. — Escher Walcott, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025 After a mourning period of two to three weeks, the College of Cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. — John Bacon, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 Thousands of people gathered at the city's Hostage Square and recited traditional mourning prayers. — Melanie Lidman, arkansasonline.com, 21 Feb. 2025 How Did Social Media React To Gene Hackman’s Passing? The response online has been one of collective grief and mourning. — Callum Booth, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mourning

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mourning was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing mourning

Rhymes for mourning

See All Rhymes for mourning

Browse Nearby Words

mourning
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Cite this Entry

“Mourning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mourning. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

mourning

noun
mourn·​ing ˈmōr-niŋ How to pronounce mourning (audio)
ˈmȯr-
1
: the act of grieving
2
: an outward sign (as black clothes or a black arm band) of grief for a person's death
to wear mourning
3
: a period of time during which signs of grief are shown
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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