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

But every minute counts for those in mourning, said Randy Schwab, the general manager of Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Originally made and sold around the area by the Merlino family, there was great mourning when the company went under in the early 2000’s. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Pearls are considered the most subdued of jewels, second only to the jet jewelry to which Victorian women were limited during their long periods of formal mourning. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

That understanding for the narrator is one tinged with mourning for the boy who endured but also the suspect boy who was always there, even before all the unfortunate happenings. — Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 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