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
Arnold Bennett
b
: a period of time during which signs of grief are shown
after a long mourning, resume their ordinary dresses—Henry Reed
Henry ReedExamples 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
Within an outlying mining operation, a Mechanist mourning the murder of her husband is bestowed a strange pet as part of a bargaining chip from a dishonorable alien race.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 May 2025
The tradition of flying the American flag at half-staff symbolizes national mourning and respect for individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country.
—Jenna Dejong, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
In the United States, at least, collective mourning is not a part of the culture, and the idea of death is met with avoidance rather than affirmation.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
In the days since Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday, amid the mourning, marveling at the ecclesiastical opulence, and the reveling in what felt like the Catholic Super Bowl, the divine mystique of the whole affair has drawn the world in.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mourning
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Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 May 2025
The tradition of flying the American flag at half-staff symbolizes national mourning and respect for individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country.
—Jenna Dejong, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
In the United States, at least, collective mourning is not a part of the culture, and the idea of death is met with avoidance rather than affirmation.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
In the days since Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday, amid the mourning, marveling at the ecclesiastical opulence, and the reveling in what felt like the Catholic Super Bowl, the divine mystique of the whole affair has drawn the world in.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mourning
Cite this Entry
“Mourning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mourning. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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