frown

[froun]

verb (used without object)

1. to contract the brow, as in displeasure or deep thought; scowl.

   Synonyms: gloom, lower, glower

2. to look displeased; have an angry look.

3. to view with disapproval; look disapprovingly (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to frown upon a scheme.

verb (used with object)

1. to express by a frown.

   to frown one's displeasure.

2. to force or shame with a disapproving frown.

   to frown someone into silence.

noun

1. a frowning look; scowl.

2. any expression or show of disapproval.

   a tax bill that received Congressional frowns.

frown

/ fraʊn /

verb

1. (intr) to draw the brows together and wrinkle the forehead, esp in worry, anger, or concentration

2. (intr; foll by on or upon) to have a dislike (of); look disapprovingly (upon)

   the club frowned upon political activity by its members

3. (tr) to express (worry, etc) by frowning

4. to force, silence, etc, by a frowning look

noun

1. the act of frowning

2. a show of dislike or displeasure

Other Word Forms

• frowningly adverb
• frowner noun
• half-frowning adjective
• half-frowningly adverb
• unfrowning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of frown¹

1350–1400; Middle English frounen < Old French froignier, derivative of froigne surly expression, probably < Gaulish *frognā; compare Welsh ffroen, Old Breton fron nostril, Old Irish srón nose < Celtic *srognā or *sroknā

Word History and Origins

Origin of frown¹

C14: from Old French froigner , of Celtic origin; compare Welsh ffroen nostril, Middle Breton froan

Example Sentences

In other tests, Google Photos’ AI editor turned my son’s frown into a smile and removed my husband’s sunglasses.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For her, karate is a way to "release emotions" and "bring serenity during stressful times", even though it was long frowned upon for women to practise the sport in Iran.

Read more on Barron's

Executive salaries remained just a few times median income and stock buybacks were illegal or frowned upon, ensuring prosperity went into workers’ pockets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While doping is generally frowned on, a conspicuous counterexample is in the works: the “Enhanced Games,” a series of athletic contests in which performance-enhancing drugs are allowed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the food bank, Grahame Lucas said he worked to "turn frowns upside down".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• glare 
• glower 
• grimace 
• pout