faint

American  

[feynt] / feɪnt /

adjective

fainter, faintest

1. lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc..

   a faint light;

   a faint color;

   a faint sound.

   Synonyms:

   dull, dim, ill-defined, indistinct

2. feeble or slight.

   faint resistance;

   faint praise;

   a faint resemblance.

   Synonyms:

   weak, irresolute

3. feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness.

   faint with hunger.

   Synonyms:

   languid

4. lacking courage; cowardly; timorous.

   Faint heart never won fair maid.

   Synonyms:

   dastardly, timid, fearful, pusillanimous

5. Law. unfounded.

   a faint action.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to lose consciousness temporarily.

2. to lose brightness.

3. Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.

noun

1. a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon.

   to fall into a faint.

faint British  

/ feɪnt /

adjective

1. lacking clarity, brightness, volume, etc

   a faint noise

2. lacking conviction or force; weak

   faint praise

3. feeling dizzy or weak as if about to lose consciousness

4. without boldness or courage; timid (esp in the combination faint-hearted )

5. no idea whatsoever

   I haven't the faintest

---

verb

1. to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness

2. archaic to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage

noun

1. Technical name: syncope.  a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brain

faint Idioms  

1. see damn with faint praise.

---

Other Word Forms

• fainter noun
• faintingly adverb
• faintish adjective
• faintishness noun
• faintly adverb
• faintness noun
• overfaint adjective
• overfaintly adverb
• overfaintness noun
• unfainting adjective
• unfaintly adverb

Etymology

Origin of faint

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French: literally, “feigned,” past participle of faindre, feindre “to feign”; feign

Example Sentences

The “Messy” hitmaker told Rolling Stone in a recent interview that she was grateful that she fainted onstage late last year, and framed the scary ordeal as a wake-up call.

From Los Angeles Times

It has a faint, almost red-hot intensity; it’s not aggressive, but assertive.

From Salon

During the day, the lights did not glow as fervently but splashed faint color over the distant trees nonetheless.

From Literature

Earlier telescopes could not clearly detect this faint infrared light.

From Science Daily

"The galaxy has such complex structure that it's not 100% clear if there's anything left to see of the explosion, but if there is, it's really faint."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• delicate
• dim
• distant
• dull
• far-off
• gentle
• hazy
• inaudible
• mild
• muffled
• muted
• remote
• slight
• soft
• soothing
• stifled
• vague
• weak