adj

brown

BROWN

adj

Having the colour of chocolate, coffee, or soil.

"She wore a brown leather jacket to the meeting."

"The leaves turn brown in autumn."

noun

The colour itself, a mix of red, yellow, and black.

"The room was painted in warm shades of brown."

verb

To cook food, especially meat, until its surface turns brown.

"Brown the onions in butter before adding the stock."

To become tanned or darker in the sun.

"His skin browned quickly during the summer holiday."

How to Use Brown

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe colour of earth, wood, or chocolate; also used as a verb for cooking or tanning something to that colour.

Common pairings

brown bread brown sugar brown the meat

Word Forms

browner comparative, more brown comparative, browned past tense, browns plural, Browns plural, browns singular, brownest superlative, most brown superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “brown” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She wore a _____ leather jacket to the meeting.

Etymology

From Old English brūn, meaning "brown" or "dark" — the same ancient root gave us "bruin", an old poetic name for a bear.

Rhymes for brown

own down town gown sown blown flown grown known crown frown clown

See all rhymes for brown →