mourns

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "mourns" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb meaning to grieve deeply over the loss of someone or something. Example sentence: After the tragic death of her younger sister, she mourns her loss every day.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Troy Davis was a family man, and his family mourns tonight".

The Guardian

m.guardiannews.com/books/2013/mar… @EgeonuWrites tweeted about Achebe the professor and critic: — Egeonu Writes(@EgeonuWrites) March 22, 2013 The world mourns the death of Prof. Chinua Achebe.

The Guardian - Books

Related: Jerry Collins dies in car crash: rugby world mourns former All Black.

The Guardian - Sport

A nation in exile mourns.

The Guardian

And even small schemes, if they multiply across the country, can add up to a culture change.David Miliband, the slight favourite to win the Labour Party's ongoing leadership contest, openly mourns the last government's failure to trust people more.

The Economist

Mr Buffett mourns not only the passing of traditional climate patterns, but also the glory days of the newspaper industry, another big industry for Berkshire, where he thinks that "eroding fundamentals will overwhelm managerial brilliance".

The Economist

An Iranian refugee mourns the loss of his niece and consoles himself with centuries-old stories from his homeland; a Taiwanese couple offer fruit to the ghost of their daughter; a wordless Bulgarian plays a nocturne to his dead wife in the dark.Central to the story is Ana Gathreaux, a migratory bird biologist, whose husband Russell, an ornithologist, was on the plane.

The Economist

Mr Mount mourns the fact that we live in a post-Christian society, and he excoriates the "anti-God-botherers" such as Mr Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, though he reveres Charles Darwin as the inventor of the age we live in.

The Economist

How Russia celebrates (or mourns) this event will reveal much about the country's future.Vladimir Putin, Russia's prime minister and former president, has famously said that the collapse of the country in which he served as a low-ranking KGB officer was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.

The Economist

Nobody mourns a robot.The Pentagon already routinely uses robotic aeroplanes known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Economist

This displacement is true for Mr Barnes as he mourns, but the image loses some of its power in repetition.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mourns" when describing a feeling of deep sorrow, especially after a loss. Ensure the subject experiencing the grief is clearly identified.

Common error

Avoid using "mourns" to describe minor disappointments or inconveniences. This can diminish the impact of the word and make your writing seem melodramatic. Reserve it for situations involving genuine loss or deep sorrow.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "mourns" is that of a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. It describes an action of feeling or expressing deep sorrow, as Ludwig shows through various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

19%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "mourns" is a verb form indicating deep sorrow, primarily used in neutral to formal contexts. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and encyclopedic sources. It serves to express grief over a loss. While synonyms exist, such as "grieves" and "laments", "mourns" maintains its distinct role in describing genuine sorrow, and should be used judiciously to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grieves

Implies a deep sorrow, often private and internal, and conveys a personal sense of loss.

laments

Expresses sorrow or regret, often outwardly and publicly, emphasizing the expression of grief.

bemoans

Expresses strong disapproval or regret, often focusing on complaining about a situation rather than personal loss.

sorrows

Denotes a feeling of sadness or regret, emphasizing the emotional experience of grief.

deplores

Indicates strong disapproval and condemnation, often in a formal or official context.

regrets

Expresses a feeling of sadness or disappointment about something that has happened or been done.

bewails

Expresses great sorrow or regret, often in a demonstrative way.

wails

Expresses a loud cry of sorrow or pain.

weeps

Sheds tears as an expression of sadness, grief, or pain.

cries

Sheds tears or shouts loudly, expressing strong emotions, including sorrow.

FAQs

How can I use "mourns" in a sentence?

You can use "mourns" to describe someone experiencing deep sorrow, for example: "The family "mourns" the loss of their beloved pet".

What are some words similar to "mourns"?

Synonyms for "mourns" include "grieves", "laments", and "bemoans". The best choice depends on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "mourns"?

It's appropriate to use "mourns" when describing profound grief or sorrow, typically after a significant loss such as a death or tragedy. Avoid using it for minor disappointments.

Is "mourns" formal or informal?

"Mourns" is considered a neutral to formal word. While it can be used in various contexts, it's particularly fitting for news reports, obituaries, and literary works, not casual conversations.