Standard Lemma guide

mournfully

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Canada, General-American: /ˈmɔɹnfəli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)nfəli

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a mournful manner; as if in mourning for something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1836, Hans Christian Andersen (translated into English by Mrs. H. B. Paull in 1872), The Little Mermaid "Why have not we an immortal soul?" asked the little mermaid mournfully; "I would give gladly all the hundreds of years that I have to live, to be a human being only for one day, and to have the hope of knowing the happiness of that glorious world above the stars."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a mournful manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the young man stared into his glass mournfully

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English mournful Middle English -ly English -ly English mournfully From mournful + -ly.