Word
mourn
US/ˈmɔɹn/
UK/mˈɔːn/
In Japanese
to mourn; to lament
to grieve over; to mourn; to lament
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Definitions
01to feel grief
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to feel very sad because someone you love has died.
v. to experience or express deep sorrow for a death. Ambitransitive — can be used with or without a direct object.
“The whole city mourned the loss of the popular mayor.”
“Thousands gathered in the central square to mourn the victims of the tragedy, standing in silence for several minutes.”
02to regret a loss
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to feel sad because something important has ended or changed.
v. to feel or express regret or sadness over the loss or end of something non-human.
“Many people mourn the passing of the old traditions.”
“Environmentalists mourn the destruction of the ancient woodland, noting that such a diverse ecosystem can never truly be replaced.”
03social customs
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to follow the traditional rules for showing sadness after a death, like wearing black clothes.
v. to observe the conventional customs and outward signs of grief for a deceased person.
“In the past, widows were expected to mourn for at least a year.”
“The nation will mourn for ten days, during which all flags will be flown at half-mast as a sign of respect.”
Synonyms
Usage
The verb can be used transitively ('mourn someone') or intransitively ('mourn for someone').
Real-World Examples
“The gangs are saying: when we choose to attack, we can, and we will succeed.”
Women mourn at the site of the attack in Kenscoff.” “Those who mourn him should have space to respectfully do so.” Etymology
From Middle English mornen, mournen, from Old English murnan, from Proto-Germanic *murnaną. Cognate with French morne (“gloomy”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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