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 day is observed with mourning, reflection and special church services. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026

Later generations’ disconnection from their roots is depicted with the steady decline in the traditional mourning observances for older family members, which shrinks from a 7-day shiva for Henry in 1855 to just three minutes of silence for his grandson, Bobbie, in 1969. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

What followed was a period of intense mourning, as Harter-Berg tried juggling processing what had happened with being there for her two boys. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026

The country observed three days of national mourning for one of the worst air disasters recorded in recent memory. —ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

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