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.

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

2

: to utter mournfully

let the whirlwind mourn its requiem

—W. S. Gilbert

mourner noun

mourningly

ˈmȯr-niŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• agonize
• anguish
• bleed
• grieve
• hurt
• sorrow
• suffer

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

The 49ers wasted no more time mourning their previous three straight defeats, from the last-minute loss to Seattle here to the ensuing blowouts in Green Bay (38-10) and Buffalo (35-10). —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024

Lord John, who also copes by getting rip-roaring drunk, refuses to let Claire mourn Jamie alone. —Lincee Ray, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Stevie Nicks is still mourning the loss of Christine McVie. —Jeff Nelson, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Family and friends are mourning the loss of Colten Boyle who died Sunday, Dec. 1, after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. —Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024

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

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