In this study, the densification behavior and microstructural evolution of CuO were examined when this material was sintered at different temperatures in $O_2$, air and Ar atmospheres. The CuO samples maintained their phases even after prolonged sintering at $900-1100^{circ}C$ in an oxygen atmosphere. When sintering in air, the densification was faster than it was when sintering in oxygen. However, when the samples were sintered at $1100^{circ}C$, large pores were observed in the sample due to the phase transformation from CuO to $Cu_2O$ which accompanies the generation of oxygen gas. The pore channels in the sample became narrower as the sintering time increased, eventually undergoing a Rayleigh breakup and forming discrete isolated pores. On the other hand, CuO sintering in Ar did not contribute to the densification, as all CuO samples underwent a phase transformation to $Cu_2O$ during the heating process.