faint

[feynt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR faint ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, faint·er, faint·est.

lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc.: a faint light; a faint color; a faint sound.

feeble or slight: faint resistance; faint praise; a faint resemblance.

feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness: faint with hunger.

lacking courage; cowardly; timorous: Faint heart never won fair maid.

Law. unfounded: a faint action.

verb (used without object)

to lose consciousness temporarily.

to lose brightness.

Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.

noun

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

Origin of faint

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

Related formsfaint·er, nounfaint·ing·ly, adverbfaint·ish, adjectivefaint·ish·ness, nounfaint·ly, adverbfaint·ness, nouno·ver·faint, adjectiveo·ver·faint·ly, adverbo·ver·faint·ness, nounun·faint·ing, adjectiveun·faint·ly, adverb

Can be confusedfain faint feign feint

Synonyms for faint

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR faint ON THESAURUS.COM

1. indistinct, ill-defined, dim, faded, dull, 2. faltering, irresolute, weak. 3. languid. 4. pusillanimous, fearful, timid, dastardly. 6. pass out, black out.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for faintly

easily, delicately, casually, tenderly, moderately, gingerly, softly, simply, mildly, freely, quietly, slightly, sparsely, subtly, smoothly, gently, comparatively, practically, seldom, barely

Examples from the Web for faintly

Contemporary Examples of faintly

The facts are not faintly controversial for those who believe in reality: vaccination saves lives, families, and dollars.
Thank You, Croatia: All Hail Mandatory Vaccinations
Kent Sepkowitz
March 27, 2014
If you listened closely during the bleep, you could faintly hear Jacqueline Bissett still giving her speech.
Golden Globes Recap: All the Best, Weirdest Moments You (May Have) Missed
Kevin Fallon
January 13, 2014
Maybe this is The Matrix (the first one that was faintly intelligible) after all.
For Newtown Killer, a Dangerous DNA Wild-Goose Chase
Kent Sepkowitz
December 28, 2012
How do you get that “faintly falling,” that transcendent rhythm?
‘The Trial’ & More Top Film Adaptations of Literary Classics (VIDEO)
Jimmy So
November 24, 2012
With the thin, vertical scar down his right cheek, the general effect was faintly piratical.
Literary Bond Superior to Movie Version
Allen Barra
November 11, 2012

Historical Examples of faintly

She was faintly, agreeably surprised to notice that she was speaking the truth.
The Incomplete Amorist
E. Nesbit
She must be seen, sir—seen—to be ever so faintly appreciated.
The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby
Charles Dickens
Once or twice she delighted him by faintly smiling a response to his speeches.
Southern Lights and Shadows
Various
She merely looked up at Coryston, motionless, faintly smiling.
The Coryston Family
Mrs. Humphry Ward
She smiled at him faintly, nodding her head as though to keep pace with her thoughts.
The Avenger
E. Phillips Oppenheim

British Dictionary definitions for faintly

faint

adjective

lacking clarity, brightness, volume, etca faint noise

lacking conviction or force; weakfaint praise

feeling dizzy or weak as if about to lose consciousness

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

not the faintest, not the faintest idea or not the faintest notion no idea whatsoeverI haven't the faintest

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 Formsfainter, nounfaintingly, adverbfaintish, adjectivefaintishness, nounfaintly, adverbfaintness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for faintly

adv.

late 13c., from faint (adj.) + -ly (2).

faint

adj.

c.1300, "wanting in courage," now mostly in faint-hearted (mid-15c.), from Old French feint "soft, weak, sluggish," past participle of feindre "hesitate, falter, be indolent, show weakness, avoid one's duty by pretending" (see feign). Sense of "weak, feeble" is early 14c. Meaning "producing a feeble impression upon the senses" is from 1650s.

faint

"grow weak" (c.1300); "lose heart" (mid-14c.); see faint (adj.). Sense of "swoon" is c.1400. Related: Fainted; fainting.

faintly in Medicine

faint

[fānt]

n.

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

adj.

Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.

Related formsfaint v.

Idioms and Phrases with faintly

faint

see damn with faint praise.