mourning

1 of 2

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

mourning

2 of 2

present participle of mourn

Examples of mourning in a Sentence

Noun

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

Noun

Kraków's Mayor Łukasz Gibała had said the city would be in official mourning until Wednesday. — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Nov. 2026

Krakow mayor Łukasz Gibała said the city will be in official mourning until Wednesday. — Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026

Two national days of mourning on November 8 and 9 were announced by the Interior Ministry on Sunday. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 8 Nov. 2026

Among those mourning was Yurii Karapetian, whose wife Natalia was killed. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mourning

• go into mourning
• mourning cloak
• mourning dove

Rhymes for mourning

• corning
• horning
• morning
• scorning
• warning
• adorning
• forewarning
• midmorning

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