faint

American  

[feynt] / feɪnt /

adjective

fainter, faintest

1. lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc..

   a faint light;

   a faint color;

   a faint sound.

   Synonyms:

   dull, dim, ill-defined, indistinct

2. feeble or slight.

   faint resistance;

   faint praise;

   a faint resemblance.

   Synonyms:

   weak, irresolute

3. feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness.

   faint with hunger.

   Synonyms:

   languid

4. lacking courage; cowardly; timorous.

   Faint heart never won fair maid.

   Synonyms:

   dastardly, timid, fearful, pusillanimous

5. Law. unfounded.

   a faint action.

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verb (used without object)

1. to lose consciousness temporarily.

2. to lose brightness.

3. Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.

noun

1. a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon.

   to fall into a faint.

faint British  

/ feɪnt /

adjective

1. lacking clarity, brightness, volume, etc

   a faint noise

2. lacking conviction or force; weak

   faint praise

3. feeling dizzy or weak as if about to lose consciousness

4. without boldness or courage; timid (esp in the combination faint-hearted )

5. no idea whatsoever

   I haven't the faintest

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verb

1. to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness

2. archaic to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage

noun

1. Technical name: syncope.  a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brain

faint Idioms  

1. see damn with faint praise.

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Other Word Forms

• fainter
  noun
• faintingly
  adverb
• faintish
  adjective
• faintishness
  noun
• faintly
  adverb
• faintness
  noun
• overfaint
  adjective
• overfaintly
  adverb
• overfaintness
  noun
• unfainting
  adjective
• unfaintly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of faint

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French: literally, “feigned,” past participle of faindre, feindre “to feign”; see feign

Explanation

Something faint has no courage or vigor. If you suddenly round the corner and see a gang of bullies staring straight at you, chances are you'll feel faint. Faint comes from the French feindre, for being cowardly or shirking duties. We usually use it to mean without great strength. If you faint, you pass out, from low blood supply to your brain. If you feel faint, you feel weak. Faint also means dim or vague. If you're staring out to sea, you might see the faint outline of an approaching ship. If you really can't remember the answer to something, say you "haven't the faintest idea."

Example Sentences

Faint signals of resistance can be detected from unlikely quarters.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Faint blushes and infinitesimal flakes of color can be found on some of the figures and there are prominent areas of pale orange and red brushstrokes on a few of the plates.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024

The study, "CECILIA: Faint emission line spectrum of z~2-3 star-forming galaxies," was supported by NASA, the Pittsburgh Foundation and the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2023

Faint beeps from Stratton’s telemetry antenna confirmed Scalp wasn’t nearby.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 1, 2023

Faint and far beneath the earth rolled the slow drum-beats: doom.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• delicate
• dim
• distant
• dull
• far-off
• gentle
• hazy
• inaudible
• mild
• muffled
• muted
• remote
• slight
• soft
• soothing
• stifled
• vague
• weak