fawn
1 Americannoun
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fawns
plural
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a young deer, especially an unweaned one.
-
a light yellowish-brown color.
adjective
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a young deer of either sex aged under one year
-
-
a light greyish-brown colour
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( as adjective )
a fawn raincoat
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(of deer) pregnant
verb
verb
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to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering
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(of animals, esp dogs) to try to please by a show of extreme friendliness and fondness (towards)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of fawn1
1225–75; Middle English fawn, foun < Middle French faon, foun, feon ≪ Vulgar Latin *fētōn-, stem of *fētō offspring, derivative of Latin fētus fetus
Origin of fawn2
First recorded before 1000; Middle English fawnen, Old English fagnian, variant of fægnian “to rejoice, make glad,” derivative of fægen “happy”; see fain
Explanation
A fawn is a young deer, but it's also a verb meaning to try and win favor by flattering. You might fawn over Bambi if you want to hang out with the cute and fuzzy gang. As a verb, fawn either refers to an attempt to get on someone’s good side, or, oddly enough, to give birth to a deer. If you're a human, fawning is an age-old art that might get you what you want but can be very unattractive. If you ever come into possession of a great fortune, watch out for sudden friends who want to fawn over you and shower you with presents. They probably have dollar signs in their eyes.
Vocabulary lists containing fawn
A Vocabulary Bestiary: Animals That Behave as Verbs
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"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
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Brown
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They write because they want others to fawn over the content.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
This is not a preying tiger in the Indian jungle - but a happily mooching Dalmatian dog in Dagnam Park, Romford, unknowingly closing in on a days-old fallow deer fawn.
From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025
He’s self-satisfied and loves to have people fawn over him, but his star is still nascent enough for Oliver to retain some naivete.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2025
“Most gay boys I knew tended to fawn over other divas of the era, but my chosen idol was Merle.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2025
"And King's Landing is not, as we both know perfectly well. While Father plays lion and fawn with the Stark boy, Renly marches up the roseroad. He could be at our gates any day now!"
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
In recent days, AFP journalists have seen roe deer and fawns looking disorientated in the middle of scorched and barren woodland.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
“Bears, coyotes and bobcats may take fawns, but humans are by and large the only predators of deer.”
From Washington Post ● Dec. 23, 2021
When food sources are plentiful, female deer produce more milk and fawns grow faster, Wolfer said.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 23, 2021
The Zoo: Bronx Tales A herd of Bactrian deer fawns are introduced to a new habitat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2021
The fawns followed suit, their hooves crushing the dried leaves as they bounded through the Wood.
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
