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

Official mourning declared after Monday’s attacks Three days of mourning were declared in Zaporizhzhia. — Derek Gatopoulos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

The daytime talk show space is in mourning, following the death last week of longtime TV producer Matt Wright. — Alexandra Del Rosario contact nov. 3, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Spanning 30,500 square feet, the museum houses 19 permanent exhibits that explore everything from presidential and papal funerals to historic hearses, cremation, mourning traditions, and funeral customs from around the world. — Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2026

Another former elite described the public mourning after Kim Jong Il’s death in 2011. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 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