faint

[ feynt ]
/ feɪnt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR faint ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, faint·er, faint·est.

verb (used without object)

noun

a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon: to fall into a faint.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?
Question 1 of 10
earnest
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.
a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.
urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of faint

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French, past participle of faindre, variant of feindre to feign

SYNONYMS FOR faint

1 indistinct, ill-defined, dim, faded, dull,
2 faltering, irresolute, weak.
3 languid.
4 pusillanimous, fearful, timid, dastardly.
6 pass out, black out.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR faint ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM faint

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH faint

fain faint feign feint

Words nearby faint

faille, failure, fain, fainaigue, fainites, faint, faintheart, fainthearted, faints, fainty, fainéant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to fainting

swoon, succumb, flicker, collapse, drop, fade, fall, fail, weaken, languish

Example sentences from the Web for fainting

British Dictionary definitions for fainting

faint
/ (feɪnt) /

adjective

verb (intr)

to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness
archaic, or poetic to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage

noun

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

Derived forms of faint

Word Origin for faint

C13: from Old French, from faindre to be idle
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

Medical definitions for fainting

faint
[ fānt ]

n.

An abrupt, usually brief loss of consciousness; an attack of syncope.

adj.

Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.

Other words from faint

faint v.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with fainting

faint

see damn with faint praise.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.