mourning

noun

mourn·​ing ˈmȯr-niŋ 

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

The legend Quincy Jones has left the world in mourning. —Elizabeth Ayoola and Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024

This communal moment of mourning and remembering helped heal some of my wounds. —Grecia Huesca Dominguez, refinery29.com, 30 Oct. 2024

For so many working comedians right now, whatever their politics, the last few years have been ripe for private and sometimes public mourning. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024

His sudden, tragic death left thousands around the globe in mourning. —Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mourning

• go into mourning
• mourning cloak
• mourning dove

Kids Definition

mourning

noun

mourn·​ing ˈmōr-niŋ 

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