frown

American  

[froun] / fraʊn /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. the act of frowning

2. a show of dislike or displeasure

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of frown

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

Example Sentences

Making "Year of the Horse" stuffed toys in a workshop, an employee accidentally stitched the festive foal's mouth on upside-down -- turning its cheerful expression into a gloomy frown.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

Even if you want to cry when you walk in the door, turn that frown upside down and greet your host with a warm hug and a smile.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 17, 2026

Now bosses might frown upon a worker caught labouring over a spreadsheet.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025

“Leave him alone, Adam,” Joe said with a frown, clenching his fists at his side.

From "A Monster of a Mystery (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #5)" by Franklin W. Dixon

Related Words

• glare
• glower
• grimace
• pout