adjective
B2
Upper-Intermediate
mournful
MAWN-fuhl
Mournful (adjective) means Full of sadness or grief. Example: “A mournful silence fell over the room after the announcement.”
adjective
1
Full of sadness or grief.
"A mournful silence fell over the room after the announcement."
"The violin played a mournful tune at the funeral."
How to use mournful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSad in a deep, grieving way.
Common pairings
mournful tone
mournful expression
mournful music
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Word forms
- Comparative
- mournfuller, more mournful
- Superlative
- mournfullest, most mournful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ silence fell over the room after the announcement.
Etymology
From "mourn" plus "-ful."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “mournful” mean?
The word “mournful” means full of sadness or grief. In plain terms, sad in a deep, grieving way.
How do you pronounce “mournful”?
“Mournful” is pronounced MAWN-fuhl (/ˈmɔɹnfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mournful” in a sentence?
Here is “mournful” used in a sentence: “A mournful silence fell over the room after the announcement.”
What part of speech is “mournful”?
“Mournful” is an adjective.
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