definitions

faint

[ feynt ]
/ feɪnt /
||
SEE MORE 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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

faille, failure, fain, fainaigue, fainites, faint, faintheart, fainthearted, faints, fainty, fainéant

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 MORE SYNONYMS FOR faint ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

Can be confused

fain faint feign feint
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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

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

Medicine definitions for fainting

faint

[ fānt ]

n.

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

adj.

Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.

Related forms

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.