verb B1 Intermediate Uncommon

mourn

mawn

Mourn (verb) means to feel or express deep sadness, especially over someone's death. Example: “The whole town mourned the loss of its longtime mayor.”

verb

To feel or express deep sadness, especially over someone's death.

"The whole town mourned the loss of its longtime mayor."

"She still mourns her grandmother, who passed years ago."

To observe the customs associated with grief, such as wearing black or holding a period of remembrance.

"The family mourned for a full year, as was the custom."

How to Use Mourn

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo grieve, usually for someone who has died.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "morn" (poetic for morning) or "mown" (past participle of mow) — all three sound alike.

Easily confused with

morn → mown

Common pairings

mourn a loss mourn the dead mourn deeply

Word Forms

mourned past tense, mourns plural, mourns singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The whole town _____ the loss of its longtime mayor.

Etymology

From Old English murnan, "to grieve," related to a Germanic root shared with the French word morne, "gloomy."

Origin: French

Rhymes for mourn

adjourn

See all rhymes for mourn →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “mourn” mean?

The word “mourn” means to feel or express deep sadness, especially over someone's death. In plain terms, to grieve, usually for someone who has died.

How do you pronounce “mourn”?

“Mourn” is pronounced mawn (/mɔɹn/ in IPA).

How do you use “mourn” in a sentence?

Here is “mourn” used in a sentence: “The whole town mourned the loss of its longtime mayor.”

What part of speech is “mourn”?

“Mourn” is a verb.

Where does the word “mourn” come from?

The word “mourn” comes from French. From Old English murnan, "to grieve," related to a Germanic root shared with the French word morne, "gloomy.".

Is “mourn” a common word?

“Mourn” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “mourn” have?

“Mourn” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to feel or express deep sadness, especially over someone's death.