mourn

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

Synonyms of mourn

• grieve

Examples of mourn in a Sentence

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

Now, as her family, friends and fans mourn, questions remain about what happened in the actress’ final hours before her death at age 36, far from home at an apartment in South Carolina. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

As Hollywood continues to mourn the death of Hayden Panettiere, some are taking aim at the way the industry treats child stars. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

For those of us still mourning the end of The Vampire Lestat, thankfully, AMC is releasing a whole concert of the bratty vampire in performance at the Beacon Theatre. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026

Jack Coleman, who co-starred in the sci-fi drama Heroes alongside Hayden Panettiere, mourned the actress’ death at age 36 in an emotional tribute. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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