frown

[ froun ]
See synonyms for frown on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to contract the brow, as in displeasure or deep thought; scowl.

  2. to look displeased; have an angry look.

  1. to view with disapproval; look disapprovingly (usually followed by on or upon): to frown upon a scheme.

verb (used with object)
  1. to express by a frown: to frown one's displeasure.

  2. to force or shame with a disapproving frown: to frown someone into silence.

noun
  1. a frowning look; scowl.

  2. any expression or show of disapproval: a tax bill that received Congressional frowns.

Origin of frown

1
1350–1400; Middle English frounen<Old French froignier, derivative of froigne surly expression, probably <Gaulish *frognā; compare Welsh ffroen,Old Breton fron nostril, Old Irish srón nose <Celtic *srognā or *sroknā

Other words for frown

Other words from frown

  • frowner, noun
  • frown·ing·ly, adverb
  • half-frowning, adjective
  • half-frown·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·frown·ing, adjective

Words Nearby frown

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use frown in a sentence

  • The tiny frown reappeared between her eyes, lingered a trifle longer than before, and vanished.

    The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
  • His brows came together in a frown, from which the Seneschal argued that his suggestion was not well received.

    St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
  • In fact, so much of her smooth brow as could be seen under a broad-brimmed straw hat was wrinkled in a decided frown.

    The Red Year | Louis Tracy
  • Old David Arden stepped back a little, growing pale, with a sudden frown.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • A frown momentarily darkened the cloudless brow of Aristide Pujol.

British Dictionary definitions for frown

frown

/ (fraʊn) /


verb
  1. (intr) to draw the brows together and wrinkle the forehead, esp in worry, anger, or concentration

  2. (intr; foll by on or upon) to have a dislike (of); look disapprovingly (upon): the club frowned upon political activity by its members

  1. (tr) to express (worry, etc) by frowning

  2. (tr often foll by down) to force, silence, etc, by a frowning look

noun
  1. the act of frowning

  2. a show of dislike or displeasure

Origin of frown

1
C14: from Old French froigner, of Celtic origin; compare Welsh ffroen nostril, Middle Breton froan

Derived forms of frown

  • frowner, noun
  • frowningly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012