Word Adjective
mournful
adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈmɔɹnfəɫ/ UK /mˈɔːnfəl/ mourn·ful
Definition
adj.feeling or showing deep sadness. You use this to describe someone who is very upset, like after a death, or a sound that is very sad to hear.
adj.expressing or feeling deep sorrow and grief. Often describes a person's demeanor or a sound that evokes a sense of loss.
Examples
“The dog gave a mournful howl in the middle of the night.”
“The crowd stood in a mournful silence as the funeral procession passed through the village square.”
“The composer used a low, mournful melody to capture the protagonist's sense of isolation and regret after the long journey home.”
Etymology
From mourn + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated