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

Hong Kong observed a three-day official mourning period from Saturday to Monday, with 18 locations set up across the city for mourners to sign condolence books. —Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025

Those in mourning have a poignantly unfinished, and painfully universal, task ahead of them. —The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025

Officials in Hong Kong announced Friday there would be three days of mourning for the victims. —Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2025

Following the fire’s devastating toll, the city has been plunged in mourning, with flags on public buildings to be flown at half-mast and events such as a light show on the harbor cancelled. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 27 Nov. 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