mourned; mourning; mourns

intransitive verb

1
: to feel or express grief or sorrow
When he dies, people throughout the world will mourn.
2
: to show the customary signs of grief for a death
especially : to wear mourning
mourned for thirty days in black clothes
3
: to murmur mournfully
used especially of doves

transitive verb

1
: to feel or express grief or sorrow for
mourned the death of his son
2
: to utter mournfully
let the whirlwind mourn its requiem W. S. Gilbert
mourner noun

Examples of mourn in a Sentence

She is still mourning her husband, who died last year. Thousands of people mourned his death. She was mourned by everyone who knew her. She mourned the loss of her youth. He still mourns the fact that he never went to college.
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.
Martínez’s official Facebook page confirmed his death and mourned the loss of the musician. Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025 All of us mourn the loss of a huge heart & soul larger even than his astonishing creative legacy. Liza Esquibias, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025 Mara Wilson is mourning the loss of her childhood friend Michelle Trachtenberg, who died last month. Lexi Carson, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025 He is mourned only by the detectives who are troubled by what happened to him. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mourn

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English murnan; akin to Old High German mornēn to mourn, Greek mermēra care — more at memory

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mourn was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mourn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mourn. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

1
: to feel or show grief or sorrow especially over someone's death
2
: to display the customary signs of grief for a death especially by wearing mourning
mourner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on mourn

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