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

Flags over federal buildings were lowered for more than five months, the longest formal mourning in Canadian history. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025

The Libyan government declared a three-day national mourning with flags flown half-staff at all state institutions, according to an announcement on Facebook. —Arkansas Online, 25 Dec. 2025

The Annunciation community has spent the months since mourning, healing, hoping and pushing for change. —Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025

Australia's worst mass shooting in 30 years has triggered a wave of mourning and anger from the Jewish community, much of which feels its warnings about rising antisemitism were ignored. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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