frown
verb (used without object)
to contract the brow, as in displeasure or deep thought; scowl.
frowning
-
present participleof frown.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
A boy and girl stand amid rows of crops and point at a frowning sun as an airplane sprays pesticides.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
In the troika of major figures in the Russian Revolution, Trotsky stood for ideas and Stalin represented power; their predecessor, Vladimir Lenin, had fused the two values as the frowning avatar of communist leadership.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
She grinned as she explained that some sculptures of famed Buddhist monk Ji Gong even showed him smiling on one side of his face and frowning on the other.
From Barron's ● Jan. 19, 2026
The image depicts a frowning Churchill, who was 67 at the time, shortly after he delivered a speech to the Canadian parliament.
From BBC ● May 26, 2025
But today she was frowning as her ice-cream hat began tipping over her face.
From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene
