mourn

1 of 2

verb

ˈmȯrn 

mourned; mourning; mourns

intransitive verb

1

: to feel or express grief or sorrow

When he dies, people throughout the world will mourn.

—often used with for

thousands mourned for him

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

mourning the loss of their youth

2

: to utter mournfully

… let the whirlwind mourn its requiem!

—W. S. Gilbert

mourner noun

mourningly

ˈmȯr-niŋ-lē 

adverb

mourner

2 of 2

noun

mourn·​er

-nə(r)

plural -s

1

a

: one that mourns

the book business has outlived most of its mourners

—Aaron Sussman

especially : one who attends a funeral out of respect or affection for the deceased

when he died, the wayward boys he had befriended were among his chief mourners

b

: one hired to attend a funeral or wail for the dead

mourners were provided to attend the funeral

—Roger L'Estrange

2

: one that publicly repents of his sins at a revival meeting

asks for mourners to come up and be saved

—J. H. Stuart

Synonyms of mourn

Verb

• grieve

Examples of mourn in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Many who have come to see the plant, take a photo with her, or simply mourn the passing of the bromeliad’s namesake. — Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026

As the first episode begins, the exultant staffers arrive at work only to find out the office in mourning over the death of a beloved Softees salesman, whose problematic personal life will make the writing of the obit a nightmare of an assignment. — Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2026

The Women's Media Center, which Steinem cofounded with Jane Fonda and Robin Morgan in 2005, mourned the pioneering feminist's loss in a heartbreaking tribute. — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

After noting that the mourning process includes mourning the future that might have been, Pike lets it all out. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Middle English morener, from mournen, mornen to mourn + -er

First Known Use

Verb

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

Rhymes for mourn

• borne
• bourn
• bourne
• corn
• morn
• morne
• porn
• scorn
• shorn
• sworn
• thorn
• torn

Kids Definition

mourn

verb

ˈmō(ə)rn 

ˈmȯ(ə)rn

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