Faint definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

faint in American English · 1. without strength; weak; feeble · 2. without courage or hope; timid · 3. done without strength, vigor, or enthusiasm; halfhearted · 4. EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Sentences Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Definitionof 'faint'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× faint (feɪnt ) Wordforms:comparativefainter ,superlativefaintest ,plural,3rdpersonsingularpresent tensefaints ,presentparticiplefainting ,pasttense,pastparticiplefainted 1. adjective[usuallyADJECTIVEnoun] Afaintsound,colour,mark,feeling,orqualityhasverylittlestrengthorintensity. Hebecameawareofthesoft,faintsoundsofwaterdripping. Theroomheldthefaint,sweetodourofpipetobacco. Hecouldseefaintlinesinherface. Therewasstillthefainthopedeepwithinhimthatshemightneverneedtoknow. Synonyms:dim,low,light,soft MoreSynonymsoffaint faintly adverb[usuallyADVERBafterverb,oftADVERBadjective]Hewasalreadyasleepinthebed,whichsmelledfaintlyofmildew. Shefeltfaintlyridiculous. Synonyms:softly,weakly,feebly,inawhisper MoreSynonymsoffaint Synonyms:slightly,rather,alittle,somewhat MoreSynonymsoffaint 2. adjective[ADJECTIVEnoun] Afaintattemptatsomethingisonethatismadewithoutpropereffortandwithlittleenthusiasm. Carolinemadeafaintattemptatalaugh. AfaintsmilecrossedtheMonsignor'sfaceandfadedquickly. TenyearsagotodaytheU.S.CenterforDiseaseControlpublishedthefirstfaint warningsofaworldwideepidemic. Synonyms:slight,weak,feeble,unenthusiastic MoreSynonymsoffaint faintly adverb[ADVERBafterverb]Johnsmiledfaintlyandshookhishead. Synonyms:softly,weakly,feebly,inawhisper MoreSynonymsoffaint 3. verb Ifyoufaint,youloseconsciousnessforashorttime,especiallybecauseyouarehungry,orbecauseofpain,heat,orshock. Shesuddenlyfellforwardontothetableandfainted.[VERB] Ithoughthe'dfaintwhenIkissedhim.[VERB] Synonyms:passout,blackout,loseconsciousness,keelover[informal] MoreSynonymsoffaint Faintisalsoanoun. Sheslumpedtothegroundinafaint. 4. adjective[verb-linkADJECTIVE] Someonewhoisfaintfeelsweakandunsteadyasiftheyareabouttoloseconsciousness. Othersignsofanginaarenausea,sweating,feelingfaintandshortnessofbreath. Synonyms:dizzy,giddy,light-headed,vertiginous MoreSynonymsoffaint faintnessuncountablenounOnepatientsufferedheadaches,nausea,andfaintness. Synonyms:weakness,dizziness,dimness,languor MoreSynonymsoffaint MoreSynonymsoffaint COBUILDAdvancedEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof faint Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'faint' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'faint' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'AshWednesday' HindiTranslationof'faint' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency faintinBritishEnglish (feɪnt ) adjective1. lackingclarity,brightness,volume,etc afaintnoise 2. lackingconvictionorforce;weak faintpraise 3. feelingdizzyorweakasifabouttoloseconsciousness 4. withoutboldnessorcourage;timid(espinthecombinationfaint-hearted) 5. Seenotthefaintest verb(intransitive)6. toloseconsciousness,espmomentarily,asthroughweakness 7. archaicorpoetic tofailorbecomeweak,espinhopeorcourage noun8. asuddenspontaneouslossofconsciousness,usuallymomentary,causedbyaninsufficientsupplyofbloodtothebrainTechnicalname:syncope CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Derivedformsfainter(ˈfainter)noun faintingly(ˈfaintingly)adverb faintish(ˈfaintish)adjective faintishness(ˈfaintishness)noun faintly(ˈfaintly)adverb faintness(ˈfaintness)noun WordoriginC13:fromOldFrench,fromfaindretobeidle WordFrequency faintinAmericanEnglish (feɪnt ) adjective1.  withoutstrength;weak;feeble 2.  withoutcourageorhope;timid 3.  donewithoutstrength,vigor,orenthusiasm;halfhearted 4.  feelingweakanddizzy,asifabouttoswoon 5.  dim;indistinct;unclear 6.  farfromcertain afaintchance noun7.  aconditionoftemporarylossofconsciousnessasaresultofaninadequateflowofbloodtothebrain;swoon 8. [pl.] thecrude,impurespiritsgivenoffinthefirstandlaststagesofthedistillationofliquor verbintransitive9.  tofallintoafaint;swoon oftenwithaway 10. Archaica.  toweaken;languish b.  tolosecourageorhope Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. Derivedformsfaintish(ˈfaintish) adjective faintly(ˈfaintly) adverb faintness(ˈfaintness) noun WordoriginMEfeint