mourning

[ mawr-ning, mohr- ]

noun

1. the act of a person who mourns; sorrowing or lamentation.

   Antonyms: rejoicing

2. the conventional manifestation of sorrow for a person's death, especially by the wearing of black clothes or a black armband, the hanging of flags at half-mast, etc.
3. the outward symbols of such sorrow, as black garments.
4. the period or interval during which a person grieves or formally expresses grief, as by wearing black garments.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in mourning.

mourning

/ ˈmɔːnɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or feelings of one who mourns; grief
2. the conventional symbols of grief, such as the wearing of black
3. the period of time during which a death is officially mourned
4. in mourning
   observing the conventions of mourning

adjective

1. of or relating to mourning

Derived Forms

• ˈmourningly, adverb

Other Words From

• mourning·ly adverb
• un·mourning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mourning¹

before 900; Middle English (noun, adj.); Old English murnung (noun). See mourn, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

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

Tesco's advert features a man called Gary who is trying to celebrate Christmas while mourning his grandmother.

From BBC

The family also said they are grateful for the outpouring of condolences from his friends and fans from around the world but requested privacy “in this time of great mourning.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grief