fawning
Americanadjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fawning
First recorded in 1325–75; fawn 2 + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective; fawn 2 + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun
Explanation
Use fawning to describe someone who's over the top in the flattery department. Like a fawning admirer who just won't stop complimenting your looks, showering you with gifts and otherwise kissing the ground you walk on. From the Old English fægnian, meaning “rejoice, exult, be glad,” fawning can be both an adjective and a noun form of the verb fawn. Fawning people are often trying to win favor with the person being flattered, and it sometimes comes off as sucking up. So do everyone a favor and don't try to boost your poor grades by fawning over your professor’s every word.
Vocabulary lists containing fawning
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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.
Macron, under pressure to show he is not fawning over Trump, has already said the evening at Versailles will not be a "gala" dinner.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
The correspondence shows Karp, a consigliere to NFL owners and the head of Citigroup, thanking Epstein with fawning emails for having him to one of his dinner parties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
The culprits were Gen-Zers fawning over how cute cozy Snoopy was, often on social media.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025
On Comedy Central, Stewart took a similar satirical approach, becoming a fawning and "patriotically obediant host" of an "all-new government approved Daily Show".
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2025
He was more fawning and would-be friendly; but Sam surprised some strange looks in his eyes at times, especially towards Frodo; and he went back more and more into his old manner of speaking.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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.
