ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mourning

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmɔɹnɪŋ// UK //mˈɔːnɪŋ// mourn·ing

n. the feeling of deep sadness you have when someone dies. It also describes the time you spend showing this sadness, like wearing dark clothes or having a funeral.

n. the expression of deep sorrow for someone who has died, typically involving specific social customs or a period of grieving. Often used to describe the outward signs of grief rather than just the internal emotion.


SIMPLE

The whole country was in mourning after the leader died.

CONTEXTUAL

She wore black for several months as a traditional sign of mourning for her grandfather.

COMPLEX

The period of national mourning was marked by lowered flags and a series of somber public ceremonies designed to honor the late statesman's legacy.

Synonyms
Origin

By surface analysis, mourn + -ing.

Usage

Often follows the preposition 'in' ('in mourning') or functions as an attributive noun ('mourning clothes').

Pitfall

She was morning for her cat.She was mourning for her cat.Learners often confuse the spelling of 'mourning' (grief) with 'morning' (the start of the day).

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