faint

[feynt]

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.

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

/ 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

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of faint¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of faint¹

C13: from Old French, from faindre to be idle

Idioms and Phrases

see damn with faint praise.

Example Sentences

She was found by chance when a shepherd, who had taken his goats to the area for grazing, heard faint cries coming from under a mound of earth.

From BBC

Due to hunger and severe headaches — a side effect of the tumor — Othmane fainted and was taken to a hospital.

From Los Angeles Times

She told the hearing the girls' father found the eldest covered in blood outside the studio and "fainted" from the shock.

From BBC

The Sparks defeated the Dallas Wings 91-77 on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena to keep their faint playoff hopes alive heading into the final week of the regular season.

From Los Angeles Times

First, one must peel back its leathery skin, which, when ripe, is a beautiful shade of pinkish-red, sometimes with faint streaks of gold or light green.

From Salon

Related Words

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