mourn

[ mawrn, mohrn ]

verb (used without object)

1. to feel or express sorrow or grief.

   Synonyms: bemoan, bewail

   Antonyms: rejoice, laugh

2. to grieve or lament for the dead.
3. to show the conventional or usual signs of sorrow over a person's death.

verb (used with object)

1. to feel or express sorrow or grief over (misfortune, loss, or anything regretted); deplore.
2. to grieve or lament over (the dead).
3. to utter in a sorrowful manner.

mourn

/ mɔːn /

verb

1. to feel or express sadness for the death or loss of (someone or something)
2. intr to observe the customs of mourning, as by wearing black
3. tr to grieve over (loss or misfortune)

Other Words From

• over·mourn verb
• un·mourned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mourn¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English mo(u)rnen, Old English murnan; cognate with Old High German mornēn, Old Norse morna, Gothic maurnan

Word History and Origins

Origin of mourn¹

Old English murnan; compare Old High German mornēn to be troubled, Gothic maurnan to grieve, Greek mermeros worried

Synonym Study

See grieve.

Example Sentences

"We mourn the loss of a dear friend, and a remarkable man," she said.

From BBC

As news of Shklyarov’s death broke Saturday, the ballet world mourned the dancer who impressed with his gravity-defying leaps and charming stage presence.

From Los Angeles Times

The company issued a statement on Sunday mourning his "tragic loss."

From BBC

When we first meet Louis in the film, he's a young plantation owner mourning the loss of his wife and child.

From Salon

For them, it was an epic loss, one that Ann Coulter, Tucker Carlson and others would still be mourning a decade later.

From Salon

Related Words

• ache
• agonize
• bemoan
• complain
• cry
• deplore
• fret
• grieve
• lament
• moan
• regret
• sob
• wail
• weep
• yearn