fawn

¹ American  

[fawn] / fɔn /

noun

• fawns
  plural

1. a young deer, especially an unweaned one.

2. a light yellowish-brown color.

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adjective

1. light yellowish-brown.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a doe) to bring forth young.

fawn ² American  

[fawn] / fɔn /

verb (used without object)

1. to seek notice or favor by flattery or servile behavior.

   The courtiers fawned over the king.

   Synonyms:

   kowtow, flatter, truckle, toady

2. (of a dog) to behave affectionately.

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fawn ¹ British  

/ fɔːn /

noun

1. a young deer of either sex aged under one year

2. 1. a light greyish-brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a fawn raincoat

3. (of deer) pregnant

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verb

1. (of deer) to bear (young)

fawn ² British  

/ fɔːn /

verb

1. to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering

2. (of animals, esp dogs) to try to please by a show of extreme friendliness and fondness (towards)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• fawner
  noun
• fawningness
  noun
• fawning
  adjective
• fawnlike
  adjective
• fawningly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fawns
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fawn fawns

They write because they want others to fawn over the content.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

One of his favorite moves is to humiliate people who are dumb enough to fawn over him.

From Salon ● Mar. 6, 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

But now that mechanism may get in the way because it’s responding to any vulnerability as a sign that you need to fight, flee, freeze, or fawn — four common responses to trauma or threats.

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2024

Or a baby fawn that the doe had left hidden in the tall grass.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson

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

Be careful of fawns and other skittering critters as you drive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2025

“Bears, coyotes and bobcats may take fawns, but humans are by and large the only predators of deer.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 23, 2021

Prepare to suppress your gag reflex while a nation fawns yet again over the 44-year-old Brady’s apparent immortality and Belichick’s tactical brilliance.

From New York Times ● Dec. 1, 2021

Saw a groundhog, saw a doe with two fawns, and saw a gray fox with a reddish head.

From "Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Related Words

• crouch
• grovel